[citation needed] The Pinto was a mid-wing, tricycle landing gear trainer with an enclosed cockpit powered by a single Continental Motors J69-T-9 (license-built Turbomeca Marboré) jet engine.

[citation needed] After its first flight in 1956, the prototype was sent to the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) Patuxent River to be evaluated alongside the Beech Model 73 Jet Mentor.

[1][2] The prototype Super Pinto, together with drawings and production rights, were purchased by the Philippine Air Force, which planned to build the aircraft as the T-610 Cali.

[3] An incomplete second prototype was shipped to the Philippines where it was completed and flown, however the collapse of the Marcos administration resulted in the shelving of the project.

[citation needed] By the end of 1960, the TT-1s were phased out of operations in the Naval Air Training Command because performance was deemed insufficient,[5] and sold as surplus.