The T-34 was the brainchild of Walter Beech, who developed it as the Beechcraft Model 45 private venture at a time when there was no defense budget for a new trainer model. Beech hoped to sell it as an economical alternative to the North American T-6/SNJ Texan, then in use by all services of the U.S. military.

A Beechcraft T-34A (A45) Mentor impacted the waters 80 feet offshore of Jones Island, Washington. The pilot, former Apollo 8 astronaut William "Bill" Anders (90), perished and the aircraft was destroyed.

The U.S. Air Force used the T-34A for primary flight training during the 1950s. The original Mentor, a Beechcraft Model 45 derived from the famous Beechcraft Bonanza, was first flown in December 1948. The first military prototype, designated YT-34 …

Apr 19, 1999 · Beech A45 (T-34) Airplane The Beech T-34 is a two-place, single-engine, tandem-seat trainer produced by Beech Aircraft Corporation. The T-34 was initially used by the military for training but was then put to use for aerobatics, air combat simulation flights, and personal use.

Model: Craft A45(T34) Manuafactured Year: 1953 Type Certificate: 5A3 Last Annual Inspection Date: April 20, 2016 Airworthiness Certificate Valid: May 31, 2019 Insurance: December 11, 2016 PITOT Static Calibration Due: March 2018 ELT Test Due: March 2017. ENGINE. Model: TCM IO-520 BB Serial: 1228621-R HP: 285

In 1950 the USAF ordered three Model A45T test aircraft, which were given the military designation YT-34. A long competition followed to determine a new trainer, and in 1953 the Air Force put the Model 45 into service as the T-34A Mentor, …

The Beechcraft Model 45 Mentor (T-34) is a single-engine two-seat trainer aircraft produced by the US-American manufacturer Beech Aircraft Corporation, today Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. The Beech 45 Mentor was developed on base of the Beech Bonanza.

Walter Beech originally developed the T-34 Mentor as the Beechcraft Model 45, a general aviation aircraft after World War II, a period when the US military had an excess of training aircraft. The aircraft saw use in the late 1940s in Japan, Spain, several South American countries, and Turkey.

The Beech B45 Mentor is the export version of the T-34A, but here painted as such. This example has a three blade propeller. T-34 Mentors have a straight vertical fin with a slight trapezium shape, and a small dorsal fin.

Among the various types evaluated were three examples of the Beech Model 45, two powered by the 153kW Continental E-185-8 engine and one by the 168kW Continental E-225-8; all three were designated YT-34 by the USAF.