When performing a stall recovery in the T-6, what is the first step?

The first step in a stall recovery in the T-6 is to push forward on the control stick. This action is crucial because it helps decrease the angle of attack, which is essential for recovering from a stall. When an aircraft stalls, its wings are no longer generating enough lift due to excessive angle of attack. By pushing forward on the control stick, the pilot effectively lowers the nose of the aircraft, allowing the wings to regain their effective aerodynamic shape and flow over them to create lift once more.

In addition to this immediate recovery action, subsequent steps would typically involve adding power and establishing a safe flight path, but the initial forward motion is what helps to unstall the aircraft efficiently. This understanding is foundational in stall recovery procedures for maintaining safety in flight operations.