The prototype TT-1 Pinto trainer first flew in 1956 and was proposed as a competitor to the Cessna T-37. Although 14 were built for the USN by Temco Aircraft, by 1960 they were retired. In 1968, American Jet Industries flew an uprated version with a more powerful engine as the T-610 Super Pinto which was to be built in the Philippines, but this failed to materialise

The ill-fated Super Pinto, only few prototypes were built before the project was cancelled. The TT-610 is a development of the TT-1 Pinto, a small number of these were used for training with the US Navy. The TT-610 Siuper Pinto featured some improvements and was planned for used with the Philippine Air Force. This aircraft is painted as 44233, it is not confirmed as its real identity, as this one crashed it might actually be 44234.

Originally US Navy Temco TT-1 Pinto 144229 with cn TE-07, this aircraft was modified to a Super Pinto with a General Electric J85 (CJ610) engine. It was re-designated a homebuilt Ezell Aviation EJ-1 circa 2002 with new cn 001. With more than three times the thrust of the original Pinto, the performance is much improved.

On 19 July 1987 this TT-1 landed short of the runway at Hayward, CA. after the engine flamed out. Both the pilot and passenger survived. It has since been reregistered as N2697B, but its current airworthiness is unknown. There were 14 TT-1 Pinto a/c produced for the US Navy. The TT-1 was put through operational testing at NAAS Saufley Field, but no further a/c were built. The flying qualities of the TT-1 were satisfactory, however it was underpowered and did not have enough fuel aboard for an average 1 hour training flight plus contingency fuel.

The Super Pinto has a General Electric CJ610 turbojet engine (2850 pounds of thrust) instead of the original Continental J69 turbojet engine (920 pounds of thrust).

Converted from ex US Navy Temco TT-1 Pinto 144233. Re-registered as N69AJ to American Jet Industries, and cancelled on 14 December 1976 on sale to the Phillipines, where it carried the number 44233 and named Cali (Hawk). It was later destroyed when it crashed during a test flight.

14 Pinto aircraft were delivered to training squadron BTG-1 at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Saufley Field, Florida from July 1958, to test the feasibility of an all-jet training syllabus. Performance was poor and the little jets were phased out in 1960. This airframe presumably survives as the Ezell EJ-1, N4229.

Now displayed at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola.