Beech T-34C

[Chris Kennedy]

Didn't find a thread for this one. This is a turbo-prop conversion of the old T-34. There are a few of them still around the military.

This one belongs to VMFAT-101. Jack posted a shot of an F/A-18 from this squadron at Willie today on Flickr. Since this squadron trains both Marines and Navy pilots, they have Marines on one side of their airplanes and Navy on the other. You can see that on the two photos below.

I was told that these aircraft are used by the squadron to check bombing ranges before operations and to patrol at the minimum altitude the pilots are told not to go below to warn them if they get too low.

They used to park at Montgomery Field sometimes on the weekends when Miramar was closed. That's where these photos were taken. They have at least three more that I have seen.

[David Loera]

I got one at Willie a while back from NAS Oceana

[Jay Beckman]

There is actually a T-34 thread in Warbirds...

#1 is a nice look Chris but the background in #2 is very cluttered.

[Joe Copalman]

True, but these are current-service military birds and should have their own thread here.

[Chris Kennedy]

I know that photo isn't that great, but it was the only one I had of that plane that showed the Marines on the left (port?) side. Unfortunately, Montgomery Field is another one of those airports where it's almost impossible to take ground level photos in any direction without a bunch of buildings showing up in the background. I found some additional photos of three more of these planes that I will be posting on Flickr.

After I noticed the markings were different on each side, I asked one of the pilots if the F/A-18s are marked the same way (they are) and he said he never noticed! I guess they just fly them, not look at them.   

[Dave S.]

That must have been a Navy pilot,  .

[phantomphan1974]

Let me wake up this thread....

At Torrance Airport. CA yesterday 8/24/11

VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters T-34C Mentor by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters T-34C Mentor by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr


VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters T-34C Mentor by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[bilwor]

Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor USN 161841 G VT-27 Boomers NAS Corpus Christi. Heritage Paint 1938 USS Ranger Air Group
KTUS 05/07/12

[azspyder]

[Bjorn van der Flier]

164169/E  T-34C  TAW-5 by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr

[azspyder]

[bilwor]

Beech T-34C "Turbo Mentor" (GL-2027)(USN 161808)(G750 VT-27 Boomers TAW-4 NAS Corpus Christi TX)

[Scott Youmans]

T-34C at Sedona Airport - May 2001

[bilwor]

Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor cnGL-3197 USN 162635 G-836 VT-28  TUS 09/29/14

Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor cnGL-3197 USN 162635 G-836 VT-28 by Bill Word, on Flickr

[Scott Youmans]

Soon to be retired...