T-34 Mentor

T–34A

A post-WWII trainer that shaped a generation of military pilots. This beautifully restored T-34A Mentor represents decades of dedication and the enduring legacy of aviation education.

A Legacy of Training Excellence

T-34 aircraft flying through a partly cloudy sky

A crowd of people looking at a T-34 parked on the runway

Designed in 1948 by Beechcraft Corporation, the T-34 Mentor was based on the successful Beechcraft Bonanza.

The U.S. Air Force ordered three aircraft in 1953 for rigorous testing, flying 432 hours in just 32 days. This led to an order of 450 T-34A Mentors, with deliveries ending in 1956. The U.S. Navy ordered 423 T-34Bs, modifying them for carrier-type landings with reinforced landing gear. The last T-34B was delivered in 1957. The T-34 Mentor was also exported to multiple foreign countries for military training.

By the 1960s, the Air Force transitioned to jet trainers (T-37, Cessna Aircraft), and by the 1970s, the Navy replaced the T-34B with the turbine-powered T-34C.

This 80-year-old warbird is owned by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and is kept in flying condition for public exhibition and education. In 2016, CAF member Mike Woods suggested adding a T-34A Mentor to our Wing. After a nationwide search, we found one right here in Wisconsin that had been in storage for years. Even better, the generous owner donated the aircraft to the CAF in 2017.

Restoration efforts, led by Steve Lark and many dedicated Wisconsin Wing members, brought this post-WWII trainer back to life. Today, our T-34A Mentor stands as a testament to perseverance and aviation history.