The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was designed as a military trainer in the late 1940's, it was based on the Beechcraft Model 45 and it was hoped it would be purchased as a cheaper alternative to the North American T-6/NJ Texan. When introduced the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was powered by a piston engine but with the introduction of the T-34C Turbo-Mentor for the USN in 1975 it was powered by a turboprop engine giving increased performance, the Turbo-Mentor remained in production until 1990 and is still in service with US armed forces and NASA. Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor Specifications: - Crew: Instructor and trainee pilot
- Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.75 m)
- Wingspan: 33 ft 5 in (10.60 m)
- Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
- Wing area: 180 ft² (16.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 2,960 lb (1,342 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,400 lb (1,950 kg)
- Engine: Single 550 shp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25 turboprop
- Maximum speed: 280 kt IAS (320 mph, 520 km/h)
- Range: 600 nm (690 mi, 1,110 km)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,480 ft/min (7.5 m/s)
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