T-34 Mentor

[@smflyboy]

My dad flew one of these in the early 60’s. He was a VFR pilot at the time in his early military career following a squadron of faster planes that got too far ahead of him and he ended up in IMC and found himself in a graveyard spiral. When he realized something was wrong he looked down in horror to discover that the attitude indicator had been removed. Fortunately he had minimal training on the old needle/ball instrument which helped him get out of the spiral and saved his young life. He told me that this experience imparted on him the importance of instrument proficiency. He really loved the T34. Cool video thx!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Damn. That would have been an eye opener. No AI.

[@capt.squirrel8516]

I’m a bit late to the show but I had to share. My first ride in a light airplane was in a T-34 with an airshow pilot. I was only 16 years old and it was an amazing experience. Unfortunately he let his ego get in the way and he had an accident during a show at Mammoth lakes in which he didn’t survive. I have fond memories of my time in and around the Mentor.

[@barryervin8536]

When I was in the Navy back in the mid-late 60s our base flying club had a T-34. I never got fully checked out in it but did fly it a bit. It's a very cool airplane. As I recall ours was an Air Force version.

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

I had the pleasure to fly the NAS Lakehurst club's Navy T-34, and an Air Force version at Naval Base Rota, Spain in the early 70s. Rental was $10 wet!

[@philippe4195]

what is this airport where the Mentor takes off This plane is superb! 😇   Commentaires Recherches associées  

[@KO-pk7df]

When I was in the Navy they had T-34s in the Navy Flying Clubs. I used to fly them for $30 wet! in the 70s and 80s. The great part of it being in the Navy Flying Clubs. I don't know if they have them anymore. Still have my T-34 NATOPS manual they gave us. Loved flying with canopy open even in the winter. It's a shame they are only for the wealthy now.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Those were the days.

[@5695q]

Checked out in one at NAS Lemoore in the early 90's by a man that was the chief pilot for a company on the airport I learned to fly at in San Diego, small world. $40/hr wet, I was there for F-18 maintenance training. Joined the club at Pt. Mugu and flew that one for a while, good times, it seemed that most of the flying clubs had them. The Air Force T-34A was certified for aerobatics but the Navy T-34B was not so you were limited to just cruising around looking cool.

[@sixter4157]

I enjoyed this look at the T-34 Mentor. I live near MCAS Miramar and see the current version, T-34C Turbo Mentor, flying on a regular basis. Those really move and I can identify them by sound alone. Such a nice plane.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Mark this is the best inflight You have ever done and I love it all and especially in the T-34 Mentor in my favorite warbird trainer

[@earlelkins9086]

Another great presentation Mark! Beautiful planes and epic scenery. Thanks for sharing your passion.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@chrisatty]

Looks like a great aircraft to fly. Thanks for video, keep them coming.

[@tjcrocker443]

Cool, liking the air to air shots.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you like them!

[@mikentx57]

i grew up knowing Earl Parks of Amarillo, TX. He was the premier T-34 restorer and restored most T-34's flying today.

[@iflycentral]

Never realized the commonality between this, and the Bonanza in terms of the wing. Make since now that I think about it, but never made the connection before.

[@eagleviewhd]

I learned to fly with the Albrook AFB Aero Club in Panama in 1969. We had three Cessna 150’s, a Cessna 175, two Piper Cherokee 140’s and an Air Force T-34 that members of the Aero Club could rent by the hour. The Cessna 150’s rented for $8.00/hour wet (that included fuel)! I had the opportunity to go up and fly with another Aero Club member a few times in the T-34. Spent some time looking up at the ground!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Those were the days.

[@philbrammer3632]

A perfect informal intro! Made the audience feel like they are on the tarmac with you 👍

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you liked it!

[@JohnDoe-we9yk]

Beautiful, btw that was a surprise.... loved it. 👍🙂

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you so much 😀

[@redriver4447]

Got to fly a -34B in college when applying to AVROC. Had a fair amount of time in Bonanzas, never wanted a yoke in one again.

[@richardfrey3716]

I have logged 112 hours in the T-34A way back in 1964 with the Arizona Civil Air Patrol...We were fortunate our Governor bought 18 of them and donated them to the various Arizona Squadron's 108 got two of them....They were 225 hp, I believe Continentals ( under powered) but as you can imagine, everyone had to Roll, Loop and have mock Dog fights (Forbidden)....It was not a really good A/C for SAR and Too much Airplane for some of the CAP Pilots (we lost Two T-34's and 4 Members in another squadron due to Low altitude Stall spin) Generally they were a Kick and a lot of fun !!!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you for sharing

[@rauldiaz3193]

You keep upping your game Sir! Great video. Really glad you are doing these I’ve learned a lot.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We try to do a video on anything interesting that comes along.

[@johnfry9010]

If I remember correctly a very long time ago Patty Wagstaff used to fly a T-34 , a beautiful Blue and Silver one ? Really nice video Mark !

[@jflippen]

That was Julie Clark. Not Patty.

[@johnfry9010]

@@jflippen Thanks John I couldn't remember for sure .

[@jdean2131]

Ohhh if I could only get my hands on the T34C model. I think I could still start it…20% NG…ground idle…watch for hot start…

[@KeepItSimpleSemperFi]

Try to find a turbomentor (PT-6A). That’s what I flew in 2009 and 2010 in Corpus Christi, Tx.

[@justinc5284]

Nice vid again - managed to dodge the thumb question too...!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

So close!

[@n3307v]

Very cool.

[@FlyingNDriving]

Another very unique burblely bird

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We've had the opportunity to video some really remarkable aircraft lately!

[@jcmcclain57]

I have dreamed of owning a T-34 since I was 13 years old… 51 years ago… someday…

[@bernardanderson3758]

I love to come out and fly the Maule

[@r-a-t-m5805]

We had a T-34 back in flightschool for basic acrobatics. Great aircraft but the stench in the cockpit was horrible.

[@dandunlap8638]

So would $800 in fuel be a good estimate for his trip?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

back then yes.

[@ben3989]

I like it.

[@thatguy7085]

Yep, it flys pretty much like a Bonanza

[@29LiveZ]

More proof that tip tanks are ice cold cool.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes they are!

[@FlightSimDude]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@matthewfergusons4318]

Movies were made like 1980s in the 90s play the play the Gustafson t1632 Ring of fire the Texas the Texans will play the bells I'm missing the movies when they actually use real plane to play and movies

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, I prefer the real ones to CGI too.

[@matthewfergusons4318]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 agreed I agree 1632 to Ring of fire book written by the late great Eric Flint unfortunately Eric Flint died last year the mentor looks so much like a fictitious airplane called Gustav early statement I said it would had played the plane in the live-action movie making beat your I can your mentors no more can't say you can make replicas of the airplane

[@matthewfergusons4318]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 it would be legal if you could somehow modify a mentor golf ball guns beardslee real firing cannon they like them they like them so they can canon that you see people actually we can work I have is to have them use propane or natural gas I do have replicas machine guns that could do that where was that can shoot from here

[@N8844H]

The new owner may come to regret the engine baffling. It looks way too much like the original, and the 550 puts out a lot more heat than the old 520. I would suggest rethinking that bit and putting the best baffling you can find. Engines are expensive.

[@5695q]

I would imagine that the engineering for doing the swap took that into account, original engine was an O470 so big power upgrade and yes more heat.

[@jflippen]

NOT 10.5 G's. +6 -3.

[@jflippen]

@@brettdavies-young7102 The TCDS 5A3 Limitations Section H. Design Structural Limit Load Factor. Positive 6 Negative 3

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for the G info.

[@klrmoto]

Don't they put turbines in these airplanes?

[@jflippen]

That would be the Turbine Mentor the T-34C model. This one is the A model.

[@easttexan2933]

one can always tell pilots from hobbyists. Can't fly the centerline

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Can't or don't care?

[@easttexan2933]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 So which is it lol ?

[@Pilotc180]

Straight and level in a T34 is about as boring as it gets

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Flying is 99% boredom and 1% terror.