@ San Carlos, CA
June 2023
This immaculate T-34 Mentor departs San Carlos Airport. First flown in 1948, Mentors provided basic flight training for the USAF, Navy, and Marines, replacing the venerable T-6 Texan. This example is an A-model, one of 450 delivered to the US Air Force. The USAF replaced the last of their T-34As at the beginning of the 1960s, relegating many to the Civil Air Patrol for use as search aircraft until their retirement in 2003. First flown in 1948, the T-34 trainer aircraft was derived from the Model 35 Bonanza with over 2,300 produced. These aircraft continue to see use under U.S. Navy control as part of flying clubs at Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations.
