The T-28 had the look, feel, sound, and power of early World War II fighters, something the Navy desired it to have when it entered training service mid-century. Powerful but predictable, the aircraft was an ideal trainer, although it was not pressurized and lacked ejection seats. Cockpit instrumentation, although adequate for instrument flight, would be considered primitive by today's standards.

Students found the T-28 sturdy and roomy, with great visibility. In flight it was both responsive and docile, and fully aerobatic. It could be safely spun from relatively low altitudes and counted upon for a nearly instantaneous recovery. Control response was quick, despite the T-28's lack of hydraulically boosted controls, though over the wide range of the aircraft's flight regime pilots had to trim the aircraft incessantly. Slow fight, as necessitated by carrier operations, were particularly impressive, as was the power response of the large radial engine.