View source for Beechcraft T-34 Mentor

{{Short description|American plane used for military training}}
{{About|the propeller-driven aircraft|other uses|T34 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = T-34 Mentor
 |image = File:T-34B-1.jpg
 |caption = A T-34B Mentor aircraft from Training Squadron 5 (VT-5) in 1976
 |type = [[Trainer aircraft]]
 |national_origin = United States
 |manufacturer = [[Beechcraft]]
 |first_flight = 2 December 1948
 |introduction = 1953
 |retired =
 |status =
 |primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]<!-- List only one user; for military aircraft, this is a nation or a service arm. Please DON'T add flag templates, as they limit horizontal space. -->
 |more_users = [[United States Navy]] <br/>[[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] <br/>[[Republic of China Air Force]]<!-- Limited to THREE (3) "more users" here (4 total users).  List users with {{plainlist}} or {{unbulleted list}}. -->
 |produced = 1953–1959 <br/> 1975–1990
 |number_built = 2,300+
 |unit cost =
 |developed_from = [[Beechcraft Bonanza]]
 |variants = <!-- variants OF the topic type -->
 |developed_into = [[Fuji LM-1 Nikko]]
}}

The '''Beechcraft T-34 Mentor''' is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military [[trainer aircraft]] derived from the [[Beechcraft Bonanza|Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza]]. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were [[piston engine|piston-engined]]. These were eventually succeeded by the upgraded '''T-34C Turbo-Mentor''', powered by a [[turboprop]] engine. The T-34 remains in service more than seven decades after it was first designed.

==Design and development==
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 Texan|North American T-6/SNJ Texan]], then in use by all services of the U.S. military.

[[File:BeechYT-34MentorCAM07.jpg|thumb|right|A YT-34 on display at the Castle Air Museum at the former [[Castle AFB]] in Atwater, California]]
[[File:T-34-3.jpg|thumb|right|T-34s of the March Field Aero Club at [[March Air Reserve Base]], California, in 2004]]

Three initial design concepts were developed for the Model 45, including one with the Bonanza's signature [[V-tail]], but the final design that emerged in 1948 incorporated conventional tail control surfaces for the benefit of the more conservative military<ref name="MH"/> (featuring a relatively large unswept vertical fin that would find its way onto the [[Beechcraft Travel Air|Travel Air]] twin-engine civil aircraft almost ten years later). The Bonanza's fuselage with four-passenger cabin was replaced with a narrower fuselage incorporating a two-seater tandem cockpit and [[bubble canopy]],<ref name="BP"/> which provided greater visibility for the trainee pilot and flight instructor. Structurally, the Model 45 was much stronger than the Bonanza, being designed for +10[[g-force|''g'']] and −4.5''g'', while the [[Continental Motors Company|Continental E-185]] engine of 185 [[horsepower]] (hp) at takeoff (less than a third of the power of the T-6's engine) was the same as that fitted to contemporary Bonanzas.<ref name="BP">Phillips, Edward H. ''Beechcraft – Pursuit of Perfection, A History of Beechcraft Airplanes''. Eagan, Minnesota: Flying Books, 1992. {{ISBN|0-911139-11-7}}.</ref>

Following the prototype were three '''Model A45T''' aircraft,<ref name="BP"/> the first two with the same engine as the prototype and the third with a [[Continental O-470|Continental E-225]],<ref name="MH"/> which would prove to be close to the production version. Production did not begin until 1953, when Beechcraft began delivering '''T-34As''' to the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) and similar '''Model B45''' aircraft for export. Production of the '''T-34B''' for the [[United States Navy]] (USN) began in 1955, this version featuring a number of changes reflecting the different requirements of the two services. The T-34B had only differential braking for steering control on the ground instead of nosewheel steering, additional wing [[dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]] and, to cater for the different heights of pilots, adjustable rudder pedals instead of the moveable seats of the T-34A.<ref name="MH">Morris, Frank. [http://www.philfarq.com/t-34/t-34_history.htm "A Short History of the Beechcraft Mentor."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006023318/http://www.philfarq.com/t-34/t-34_history.htm |date=6 October 2007 }} ''philfarq.com''. Retrieved: 13 November 2007.</ref> T-34A production was completed in 1956, with T-34Bs being built until October 1957 and licensed B45 versions built in [[Canada]] (125 manufactured by [[Canadian Car and Foundry]]),<ref name="BP"/> Japan (173 built by [[Fuji Heavy Industries]]),<ref name="BP"/> and [[Argentina]] (75 by [[Fabrica Militar de Aviones|FMA]]) until 1958. Beechcraft delivered the last Model B45s in 1959.<ref name="MH"/> Total production of the Continental-engined versions in the US and abroad was 1,904 aircraft.<ref name="BP"/>

===Model 73 Jet Mentor===
[[File:Beechcraft Model 73 Jet Mentor in flight c1956.jpg|thumb|The Model 73 ''Jet Mentor''.]]

In 1955, Beechcraft developed a jet-engined derivative, again as a private venture, and again in the hope of winning a contract from the US military.<ref name="BP"/> The '''Model 73 Jet Mentor''' shared many components with the piston-engined aircraft; major visual differences were the redesigned cockpit which was moved forward in the fuselage and the air intakes for the jet engine in the [[wing root]]s, supplying air to a single {{convert|920|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} [[Continental J69]] jet engine in the rear fuselage.<ref name="BP"/><ref name="jawa56 p230-1">Bridgman 1956, pp. 230–231.</ref> The first flight of the Model 73, registered N134B, was on 18 December 1955. The Model 73 was evaluated by the USAF, which ordered the [[T-37 Tweet|Cessna T-37]], and the USN, which decided upon the [[TT Pinto|Temco TT Pinto]].  After initial testing at the Naval Air Test Center at [[NAS Patuxent River]], Maryland, the Navy tested the feasibility of using the TT Pinto as a jet-powered trainer for primary flight training in 1959, but discontinued use of the aircraft by December 1960 and discarded all examples, returning to the piston-powered [[T-34 Mentor|T-34B Mentor]] and North American [[T-28 Trojan]] for its primary flight training requirements. The Beechcraft Model 73 was not put into production<ref name="BP"/> and the sole prototype is displayed at the [[Kansas Aviation Museum]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Beech Jet Mentor| publisher=Kansas Aviation Museum| url=http://kansasaviationmuseum.org/visit/aircraft/beech-jet-mentor/| access-date=15 October 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019112425/http://kansasaviationmuseum.org/visit/aircraft/beech-jet-mentor/| archive-date=19 October 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

===T-34C Turbo-Mentor===
[[File:T-34C Turbo Mentor.jpg|thumb|A T-34C Turbo-Mentor, which can be distinguished from the B (piston) model by the extended nose and exhaust stacks on either side behind the prop to accommodate the turboprop engine]]

After a production hiatus of almost 15 years, the '''T-34C Turbo-Mentor''' powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6]]A-25 turboprop engine was developed in 1973.<ref name="BP"/><ref name="JA"/> The original T-34's modified Bonanza/Debonair-style wing was replaced with a variant of the larger [[Beech Baron]] wing, and the original Bonanza/Debonair-style landing gear was replaced with the landing gear from the even-larger [[Beech Duke]].<ref name="charlie_model_mentor_1975">Davisson, Budd: [http://airbum.com/pireps/PirepT34C.html "Flying the Charlie Model Mentor, When it was Brand New,"] (aircraft review and pilot report), August 1975, ''Air Progress,'' retrieved January 11, 2023 from Airbum.com</ref>

Development proceeded at the behest of the USN, which supplied two T-34Bs for conversion.<ref name="JA"/> After re-engining with the PT6, the two aircraft were redesignated as '''YT-34Cs''', the first of these flying with turboprop power for the first time on 21 September 1973.<ref name="JA">Taylor, M. J. H., ed. ''Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century''. Lombard, IL: Mallard Press, 1991. {{ISBN|0-7924-5627-0}}.</ref> Mentor production restarted in 1975 for deliveries of '''T-34Cs''' to the USN and of the '''T-34C-1''' armed version for export customers in 1977, this version featuring four underwing [[hardpoint]]s.<ref name="MH"/> The last Turbo-Mentor rolled off the production line in 1990.<ref name="BP"/>

Since the late 1970s, T-34Cs have been used by the Naval Air Training Command to train numerous [[Naval Aviator]]s and [[Naval Flight Officer]]s for the [[U.S. Navy]], [[U.S. Marine Corps]], [[U.S. Coast Guard]], and numerous [[NATO]] and Allied nations.  With over 35 years of service, the T-34C has been completely replaced by the [[T-6 Texan II]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1800&ct=1 |title=The US Navy |access-date=23 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210174457/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1800&ct=1 |archive-date=10 December 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1700&ct=1 |title=The US Navy -- Fact File: T-6A Texan II turboprop trainer |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418044224/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1700&ct=1 |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Operational history==

===U.S. Air Force and Civil Air Patrol===

The first flight of the Model 45 was on 2 December 1948, by Beechcraft test pilot Vern Carstens.<ref name="BP"/> In 1950, the USAF ordered three '''Model A45T''' test aircraft, which were given the military designation YT-34.<ref name="BP"/> 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, while the USN followed in May 1955 with the T-34B.<ref name="BP"/>

After extensive testing, the USAF ordered the Mentor into production as the T-34A in early 1953. The first production T-34A was delivered to [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California, in October 1953 for evaluation, and deliveries to the [[Air Training Command]] (ATC) began in 1954.  The T-34A commenced service as USAF's initial primary flight trainer at "contract" pilot training air bases across the southern United States, replacing extant North American [[AT-6 Texan]] trainers.  Following training in the T-34A, USAF pilot trainees would advance to the North American [[T-28 Trojan|T-28A Trojan]] for intermediate training.

The T-34A Mentor remained the standard USAF primary trainer until the introduction of the Cessna [[T-37 Tweet]] jet trainer in the late 1950s, replacing both the T-34A and T-28A.  This also coincided with ATC's implementation of the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) syllabus at various air force bases in the United States under ATC claimancy and phaseout and closure of the contract pilot training air bases. As they were replaced by T-37s, many T-34As were turned over to USAF aero clubs at air force bases in the United States and USAF air bases overseas. In all, the USAF acquired 450 T-34As.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141023194300/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=367 "Factsheets: Beech T-34A Mentor."]''National Museum of the US Air Force.'' Retrieved: 22 February 2015.</ref>

When the U.S. Air Force replaced the last of their T-34As at the beginning of the 1960s (their role taken over by the propeller-driven [[T-41 Mescalero]] and the [[T-37 Tweet]] primary jet trainer in UPT), T-34As not allocated to USAF aero clubs or marked for foreign military sale/transfer were turned over to the USAF Auxiliary, the [[Civil Air Patrol]], for use as search and rescue aircraft.  However, the T-34A's low-wing design limited its utility in an aerial search and rescue role. Compounded with maintenance issues, particularly expensive wing spar repairs that became apparent in the late 1990s,{{Citation needed|date=April 2025|reason=Citation provided doesn't specify the 1990s timeframe for wing spar failure and/or evaluation.}} the last of the former USAF T-34As were withdrawn from CAP service in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caphistory.org/the_airplanes.html |title=The National Museum of the Civil Air Patrol - Photo Gallery - CAP |access-date=13 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209180622/http://www.caphistory.org/the_airplanes.html |archive-date=9 February 2012  }}</ref>

===U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps===

The U.S. Navy kept the T-34B operational as a [[Naval Air Training Command]] initial primary trainer at the former [[Naval Air Station]] [[Saufley Field]], Florida until the mid-1970s and as a [[United States Navy Recruiting Command|Navy Recruiting Command]] aircraft until the early 1990s when the last examples were retired as an economy move.  Others continue to remain under U.S. Navy control as part of flying clubs at Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations.

Beginning in 1975, the turbine-powered T-34C Turbomentor was introduced as the Navy's new primary flight trainer for Student [[Naval Aviator]]s, and began replacing the North American [[T-28 Trojan]] with training air wings at [[NAS Whiting Field]], Florida and [[NAS Corpus Christi]], Texas.  In the mid-1980s, it also commenced service as a basic trainer for Student [[Naval Flight Officer]]s at [[NAS Pensacola]], Florida.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The T-34C is no longer used as a primary training aircraft for [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] and [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] Student Naval Aviators and various [[NATO]]/Allied/Coalition student pilots training under U.S. Navy auspices. It has been replaced by the [[T-6 Texan II]].   [[VT-28|Training Squadron TWENTY-EIGHT]] at NAS Corpus Christi's Training Air Wing FOUR was the last to retire the T-34C as a Naval Primary Training Aircraft according to the Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA) Public Affairs Office (PAO), joining Training Air Wing SIX at [[NAS Pensacola]], Training Air Wing FIVE at [[NAS Whiting Field]] and Training Air Wing FOUR's Training Squadron TWENTY-SEVEN at [[NAS Corpus Christi]] that had already transitioned to the T-6A and T-6B models.

Several other T-34Cs also remain in service with the Naval Air Test Center at [[NAS Patuxent River]], Maryland and as aerial spotter aircraft with [[F/A-18]] Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS) and Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics Schools at [[NAS Oceana]], Virginia; [[NAS Lemoore]], California; and [[MCAS Miramar]], California; and the [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]] (NSAWC) at [[NAS Fallon]], Nevada.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

===U.S. Army===

Some time before 1990, the [[United States Army]] received six ex-U.S. Navy T-34C, used as test platforms and [[chase plane]]s at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California and [[Fort Bragg (North Carolina)|Fort Bragg]], North Carolina.<ref name="Harding p27-8">Harding 1990, pp. 27–28.</ref>

===NASA===

[[NASA]] [[Armstrong Flight Research Center]] (formerly the Dryden Flight Research Center) at [[Edwards, California]] has operated two T-34C aircraft. The first aircraft was previously flown at the [[Glenn Research Center]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], where it was used for propulsion experiments involving turboprop engines. In 1996 this aircraft was moved Dryden as a chase aircraft. That aircraft was returned to the U.S. Navy in 2002. The second T-34C was obtained in early 2005 from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) at [[NAS Patuxent River]], where it was due to be retired. At Armstrong, the T-34C is primarily used for chasing remotely piloted unmanned air vehicles which fly slower than NASA's F/A-18 mission support aircraft can fly. As a NASA mission support chase plane, the back seat would be occupied by a photographer or flight test engineer during research missions. It is also used for required pilot proficiency flying.<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-092-DFRC.html "T-34C Mission Support Aircraft"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204150834/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-092-DFRC.html |date=4 December 2014 }} ''NASA''. Retrieved: 29 April 2015.</ref>

=== Non-U.S. military service ===
As of 2007, Mentors were still used by several air forces and navies.

From 1978, the T-34C Turbo-Mentor was the [[Argentine Naval Aviation]] basic trainer used by the 1st Naval Aviation Force (Training), alongside 15 T-34C-1 light attack aircraft forming the Fourth Naval Air Attack Squadron.<ref>Villarino, Horacio. ''Exocet'' (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Siete Dias, First edition 1983. {{ISBN|950-10-0116-4}}.</ref> During the 1982 [[Falklands War]], four T-34C-1s were deployed to [[Port Stanley]] on 25 April 1982, primarily to be employed in a reconnaissance role. The main encounter with British forces occurred on 1 May 1982 when three Turbo-Mentors attacked a [[Royal Navy]] [[Westland Sea King]] helicopter in the area of Berkeley Sound but were intercepted by Royal Navy [[Sea Harrier]]s flown by Lt 'Soapy' Watson and Lt Cdr [[Nigel Ward|'Sharky' Ward]] of [[801 Naval Air Squadron]] flying from [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']],<ref>[http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/ArgentineAirc.htm#mentor "Beechcraft T-34A & C Mentor."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515212830/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/ArgentineAirc.htm |date=15 May 2008 }} ''britains-smallwars.com''. Retrieved: 30 August 2010.</ref><ref>Morgan 2006, p. 78. Quote: "This changed around midday when Lieutenant Soapy Watson and Lieutenant Commander [[Sharkey Ward]] were vectored onto three Mentor light attack aircraft about to attack a Sea King in the area of Berkeley Sound."</ref> with one of the T-34Cs being damaged by cannon fire from Ward's aircraft. The four T-34C-1 Turbo-Mentors continued to operate, flying a few reconnaissance missions, but were redeployed to [[Pebble Island|Borbon Station]] where they were ultimately destroyed by the SAS [[Raid on Pebble Island]] on 15 May 1982.<ref>Freedman, Sir Lawrence. ''The Official History of the Falklands Campaign''. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7146-5207-5}}.</ref> Although all four hulks remained on the island for a considerable length of time, eventually, 0729/(1-A)411 was recovered on 10 June 1983 and stored for future display at the [[Fleet Air Arm Museum]].<ref>[http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/UK/Yeovilton/Fleet_Air_Arm_Museum.htm "Beech T-34C."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918020942/http://aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/UK/Yeovilton/Fleet_Air_Arm_Museum.htm |date=18 September 2010 }} ''[[aviation museum]].eu.'' Retrieved: 30 August 2010.</ref>

===Civilian use===
[[File:T-34 Mentor "Free Spirit" of Julie Clark.jpg|thumb|[[Julie Clark]] in the T-34 "Free Spirit" c. 2006]]

In 2004, due to a series of crashes involving in-flight structural failure during simulated combat flights, the entire US civilian fleet of T-34A/Bs was grounded by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]. The grounding has since been eased to a slate of restrictions on the permitted flight envelope. Via a series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) established by or Alternate Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) negotiated with the FAA, including installation of certain, approved structural modifications to the wing spar and other repairs, the T-34A and T-34B fleet in 2011 has been restored to full flight status by FAA at the Mentor's originally designed limitations, provided each individual example is compliant with those ADs and AMOCs.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The Mentor is the aircraft used by the [[Lima Lima Flight Team]] and Dragon Flight, both civilian demonstration teams.{{cn|date=May 2023}} It was also used by aerobatic pilot [[Julie Clark]], who flew her T-34 "Free Spirit" (registration N134JC) at air shows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lips |first=Jesse |date=2002-01-12 |title=Julie Clark's Flying Adventures as Captain and Aerobatics Superstar – Airport Journals |url=http://airportjournals.com/julie-clarks-flying-adventures-as-captain-and-aerobatics-superstar/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=airportjournals.com}}</ref> 

In 2024, [[Apollo 8]] lunar module pilot [[William Anders|Bill Anders]] was killed in a crash near the US-Canada border while flying a T-34.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matza |first=Max |date=2024-06-08 |title=Bill Anders: Nasa 'Earthrise' astronaut dies at 90 in plane crash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw99wj5e5q8o |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=www.bbc.com |language= |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809210558/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw99wj5e5q8o |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:Beech T-34B in flight c1950s.jpeg|thumb|A U.S. Navy T-34B assigned to NAS [[Saufley Field]] in the 1950s.]]
;YT-34
:Prototype, three built.
;T-34A
:US Air Force trainer. Replaced by the [[Cessna T-37]] around 1960 (450 built).
;T-34B
:US Navy trainer. Used as a trainer until 1976, when VT-1 and VT-5 were decommissioned. It was replaced by the T-34C (423 built by Beechcraft).  T-34Bs were flown by pilots assigned to the [[Navy Recruiting Command]] until the mid-1990s.  
;YT-34C
:Two T-34Bs were fitted with turboprop engines, and were used as T-34C prototypes.
;T-34C Turbo-Mentor
:Two-seat primary trainer, fitted with a turboprop engine.
;T-34C-1
:Equipped with hardpoints for training or light attack, able to carry {{convert|1200|lb|abbr=on}} of weapons on four underwing pylons. The armament could include flares, incendiary bombs, rocket or gun pods and antitank missiles. Widely exported.
;Turbine-Mentor 34C
:A civil variant introduced -- not, it seems, in search of private buyers, but for governmental sales where a military type was undesireable. Six were sold to the Algerian national pilot training school in 1979.
;Allison Turbine Mentor
:Conversion of surplus T-34 Mentors to be powered by [[Allison Model 250]] turboprop engines.<ref name="Janes 88 p325">Taylor 1988, p. 325.</ref>
;Model 73 Jet Mentor:Powered by a {{cvt|920|lbf|kN|2}} [[Continental J69-T-9]] [[turbojet engine]]. The sole aircraft first flew on 18 December 1955.<ref name=JAWA58-59>{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1958 |publisher=Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. |location=London |page=256}}</ref>

==Operators==

===Military operators===
{{acopmap|T-34 Mentor|Military T-34 operators}}
[[File:T-34A USAF.jpg|thumb|right|A T-34A Mentor at the National Museum of the USAF]]
[[File:ROCAF T-34C in Songshan Air Force Base 20110813.jpg|thumb|Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force (RoCAF) T-34C]]
[[File:T-34Cfae.JPG|thumb|right|T-34C of the Ecuadorian Air Force]]
[[File:Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor - GPN-2000-001989.jpg|thumb|Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor operated by [[NASA]]]]
[[File:T-34C-Mentor.jpg|thumb|Indonesian Air Force T-34C]]
[[File:JGSDF T-34A.JPG|thumb|[[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]]]]

;{{ALG}}<ref name="Janes 88 p329">Taylor 1988, p. 329.</ref>
;{{ARG}}
* [[Argentine Air Force]] - Received 15 T-34B from Beechcraft, and 75 built under licence in Argentina by [[Fabrica Militar de Aviones|Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA)]].<ref name="pelp100">Pelletier 1995, p. 100</ref>
* [[Argentine Naval Aviation]] – 15 T-34C-1 in 1978.<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
;{{BOL}}
* [[Bolivian Air Force]] – Received 11 T-34A and Bs from Uruguay in 2000.<ref>''International Air Power Review'' Summer 2001, p. 31.</ref> RCAF Cpurses 5409 and 5411, RCAF Station, Penhold, Alberta
;{{CAN}}
* [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] - 25 T-34A built in Canada by Canadian Car and Foundry evaluated from 1954 to 1956 with RCAF Courses 5409 and 5411, RCAF Station Penhold, Alberta, until donated to other air forces.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
;{{CHI}}
* [[Chilean Air Force]]<ref>Wheeler ''Flight International'' 4 October 1980, p. 1329.</ref>
* [[Chilean Navy]]<ref>Wheeler ''Flight International'' 4 October 1980, p. 1330.</ref>
;{{COL}}
*[[Colombian Air Force]] – Purchased 50 T-34s in 1954, with six more acquired in 1970 and 10 in 1977. The final T-34 was retired in December 2013.<ref>Rivas, Salvador. "Columbia Retires the Mentor". ''[[Air International]]'', Vol. 86, No. 2. February 2014. p. 9.</ref>
;{{ECU}}
* [[Ecuadorian Air Force]]<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
* [[Ecuadorian Navy]]<ref>Wheeler ''Flight International'' 4 October 1980, pp. 1331–1332.</ref>
;{{ESA}}<ref name="pelp103"/>
;{{FRA}}
;{{GAB}}<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
;{{IDN}}
* [[Indonesian Air Force]]<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
;{{JPN}}
* [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] - until 1976<ref>Япония // журнал «Зарубежное военное обозрение», № 1, 1976. стр.128</ref>
* [[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]]
;{{MEX}}
* [[Mexican Navy]]<ref name="pelp102">Pelletier 1995, p. 102</ref>
;{{MAR}}
* [[Royal Moroccan Air Force]]<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
;{{PER}}
* [[Peruvian Air Force]]<ref name="pelp103"/>
* [[Peruvian Naval Aviation]] - T-34A and T-34C<ref name="pelp103"/><ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
;{{PHI}}
* [[Philippine Air Force]] - 36 Fuji built T-34As.<ref name="pelp1023">Pelletier 1995, pp. 102–103</ref>
;{{KSA}}
* [[Royal Saudi Air Force]]<ref>''Air International'' June 1972, p. 302.</ref>
;{{ESP}}
* [[Spanish Air Force]] - 25 T-34As, with local designation E.17.<ref name="pelp103">Pelletier 1995, p. 103</ref>
;{{TWN}}<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
*[[Republic of China Air Force]] - Purchased 49 T-34Cs in 1985, 40 of them are still in service. 
;{{TUR}}
* [[Turkish Air Force]] - ex Canadian T-34As<ref name="pelp101,3">Pelletier 1995, pp. 101,104</ref>
;{{USA}}
* [[United States Air Force]]
* [[United States Army]]<ref name="Harding p27-8"/>
* [[United States Navy]]
* [[United States Marine Corps]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021">{{cite web|title=World Air Forces 2021|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2021/141456.article|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110064115/https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2021/141456.article|archive-date=10 Jan 2021|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=flightglobal.com}}</ref>
* [[United States Coast Guard]]
* [[Civil Air Patrol]]
;{{URY}}
* [[Uruguayan Air Force]]<ref name="Janes 88 p329"/>
* [[Uruguayan Navy]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2021"/>
;{{VEN}}
* [[Venezuelan Air Force]]<ref name="pelp104">Pelletier 1995, p. 104</ref>

===Civil operators===

;{{TUR}}
* [[Turkish Aeronautical Association]]
;{{USA}}:
* [[Dragon Flight]]
* [[Lima Lima Flight Team]]
* [[NASA]]
* [[North Carolina Forest Service]]<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Reginald |last2=Byrd |first2=Michael |date=2023-08-13 |title=The North Carolina Forest Service Demonstrates Aerial Firefighting Operation To Squadrons |url=https://ncwg.cap.gov/news/ncwgnews/the-north-carolina-forest-service-demonstrates-aerial-firefighting-operation-to-squadrons |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Civil Air Patrol]] North Carolina Wing}}</ref>

==Specifications (T-34C)==
{{multiple image
 |total_width = 500
 | image1 = Beechcraft T-34 Mentor 3-view line drawing.png
 | alt1 = 3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft T-34A Mentor
 | caption1 = 3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft T-34A Mentor
 | image2 = Beechcraft T-34C Mentor 3-view line drawing.png
 | alt2 = 3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft T-34C Mentor
 | caption2 = 3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft T-34C Mentor
}}

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89<ref name="Janes 88 p329-30">Taylor 1988, pp. 329–330.</ref>
|prime units?=kts
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=28
|length in=8+1/2
|span m=
|span ft=33
|span in=3+7/8
|height m=
|height ft=9
|height in=7
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=179.6
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=2960
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=4300
|max takeoff weight note=(T-34C-1 weapons trainer {{convert|5500|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|fuel capacity={{convert|130|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}}
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6]]A-25
|eng1 type=[[turboprop]]

|eng1 shp=550<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=3<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hartzell constant-speed
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed kts=214
|cruise speed note=at {{convert|17000|ft|m|abbr=on}} (max cruise)
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=280
|stall speed kts=53
|stall speed note=(flaps down, power off)
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=708
|range note=at {{convert|180|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} and {{convert|20000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=30000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+6, -3<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1480
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->

|guns= 
|bombs= 
|rockets= 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=4
|hardpoint capacity=600 lb (272 kg) inner, 300 lb (136 kg) outer, 1,200 lb (544 kg) total
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
* [[Beechcraft Bonanza]]
* [[Beechcraft Travel Air]]
* [[Beechcraft Baron]]
* [[Fuji KM-2]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[HAL HPT-32 Deepak]]
* [[North American T-28 Trojan]]
* [[Pilatus P-3]]
* [[PAC CT/4]]
|lists=
|see also=
* [[Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey]] ([[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] case involving T-34 fatal crash of the [[Barbara Allen Rainey|first female pilot in the US Navy]])
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* "Arabian Fledgling...the Royal Saudi Air Force". ''[[Air International|Air Enthusiast]]'', June 1972, Vol. 2, No. 6. pp.&nbsp;300–308. 
* Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57''. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1956. 
* Drendel Lou. ''T-34 Mentor in Action''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1990. {{ISBN|0-89747-249-7}}.
* "Fuerza Aérea Boliviana". ''International Air Power Review''. Volume 1, Summer 2001. pp.&nbsp;28–31. {{ISSN|1473-9917}}.
* Harding, Stephen. ''U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947''. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1990. {{ISBN|1-85310-102-8}}.
* Morgan, David. ''Hostile Skies: My Falklands Air War''. London: Phoenix Publishing, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-7538-2199-2}}.
* Pelletier, A. J. ''Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors''. Annapolis, Maryland, US: Naval Institute Press, 1995. {{ISBN|1-55750-062-2}}.
*{{cite journal|title=Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation|journal=Air Enthusiast Quarterly |date=n.d. |issue=2 |pages=154–162 |issn=0143-5450}}
* Taylor, John W.R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7106-0867-5}}.
* Wheeler, Barry C. [https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%202986.html "World's Air Forces 1980"]. ''[[Flight International]]'', Vol. 118, No. 3726. 4 October 1980. pp.&nbsp;1323–1378. {{ISSN|0015-3710}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Beechcraft T-34 Mentor}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081210023649/http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/t-34/ Hawker Beechcraft T-34 page]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/t-34.html T-34 history page on Navy.mil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013063032/http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/t-34.html |date=13 October 2014 }}
* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1800&ct=1 US Navy Fact File: T-34C Turbo-Mentor on Navy.mil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210174457/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1800&ct=1 |date=10 December 2005 }}
* [http://www.t-34.com T-34 Association]
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/52181401 Manual: (1958) T.O. 1T-34A-1 Flight Handbook T-34A USAF Series]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140928003336/http://www.t-34turkiye.com/  T-34 Turkey-T-34's Protect and Preserve the Association -Hur Kus Aviation Club]

{{Bonanza family}}
{{Beechcraft}}
{{USAF trainer aircraft}}
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}
{{Spanish trainer aircraft}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Beechcraft aircraft|T-34]]
[[Category:1940s United States military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1948]]
[[Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]