T-6的設計原型是北美航空公司開發的北美NA-16教練機(英语:North American NA-16),它的原始空氣動力外型設計即是以螺旋槳高級教練機的定位設計,性能可靠,並取得了一些客戶青睞。在1935年美國陸軍航空隊發出了基礎教練機需求(Basic Trainer Competition)競標,北美航空將NA-16的設計遞交給美軍,但該次競標啟動後美軍隨後增加要求,包括增加武器配備與伸縮式起落架等,競標案也從基礎教練機轉換為基礎戰鬥教練機(Basic Combat專案)。因為開標方的條件改變,北美也提出修改後新版本機種作為競標主力。
新的設計公司內部代號NA-26,是由NA-18機型改良。NA-26設計有較NA-18更寬的翼展,並改良為可收式起落架設計,部分機內零附件則是從1936年得標量產的北美BT-9教練機(英语:North American BT-9)移植。但和BT-9相比,NA-26配備的普惠R-1340發動機馬力更強,機鼻也可以裝2挺0.30英吋機槍,螺旋槳導入可變螺矩螺旋槳,並裝設可提供起落架收放與控制面動力的液壓泵,改善飛行操作靈敏性。北美公司的設計在1937年3月審查合格,並得到多個軍種的訂單。第一批量產的訂單是美國陸軍航空隊訂購的177架BC-1,它為無武裝型教練機,設計與NA-26相同,裝有雙向無線電,配備輸出動力600匹馬力R-1340-47引擎,這批飛機在1937年6月9日開始解繳給美軍使用,後有30架改造為專供儀器飛行訓練用的BC-1-I(NA-36)。第二批訂購的83架是配備武裝的戰鬥教練機BC-1A(NA-55-1),BC-1A的機鼻右側裝了1挺0.30機槍、後座增裝1挺可向後射擊的0.30英吋機槍。BC-1A的機翼設計是改用NACA2215翼根、NACA4412翼尖,機內油箱為178美制加侖。在AT-6A開始量產後,部分BC-1A接受改良更換成AT-6A的機翼,這些改良型稱為BC-1B。
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