FSX Beechcraft T-34B Mentor
In 1948 Beech built as a private venture a two-seat trainer evolved from the V-tail civil Bonanza. It differed primarily by having tandem seating for pupil and instructor, and by the substitution of a conventional tail unit for the V-tail. This aircraft was designated Beech Model 45 Mentor, and flew for the first time on 2 December 1948.
At about this time the USAF, in common with many other air forces, was trying to make up its mind about the trend of future primary training. The problem facing them all was whether or not, as a result of the introduction into service of turbine engines, initial training should be on jet-powered aircraft. At the time it was a difficult question: an affirmative answer meant not only that the most ham-fisted of student pilots would have to cope from the outset with aircraft of much higher performance, but that at the same time they would be faced with the problem of handling a power unit which had not then been developed to a point of great reliability. On the credit side, however, they would work throughout their training with turbine engines and a constant handling technique: retention of piston-engine power for primary trainers would bring the need for a transition phase from piston- to turbine-engine at a later stage. USAF planners chose the latter as the more prudent course at that time. Among the various types evaluated were three examples of the Beech Model 45, two powered by the 153kW Continental E-185-8 engine and one by the 168kW Continental E-225-8; all three were designated YT-34 by the USAF. These three aircraft made their first flights in May, June and July 1950, and were tested extensively during the competition period, being flown not only by evaluation pilots, but also in the primary training role with pupils and instructors. Almost three years later, on 4 March 1953, the USAF selected the Model 45 as its new primary trainer, under the designation T-34A Mentor, and ultimately 450 were built for that service, 350 by Beech and 100 by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company in Montreal, Canada. US Navy evaluation of the Model 45 began soon after the USAF had placed its initial contract with Beech, and on 17 June 1954 the Navy ordered 290 of these trainers, under the designation T-34B. A total of 423 was acquired eventually. In July 1951 one of the original prototypes was modified to mount two 7.62mm machine-guns in the wings, with provision additionally for underwing racks capable of accepting six rockets or two 68kg bombs; this was evaluated by the USAF as a potential light close-support aircraft, but no orders materialised.
Installation:
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-Unzip " T34Mentor " into a temporary file and move the "T34Mentor" folder into the main Aircraft directory.
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-Read instructions carefully when installing the gauges , say YES...when asked if the gauges sources should be trusted. If you say no....most of the gauges are not going to work !
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-Leave all gauges in the T34Mentor panel folder
-Copy the effects into the Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator ...\effects folder.
CREDITS
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Special thanks to :
-Alphasim team for this beautiful freeware.
LEGAL:
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The project is released as freeware. You may modify it and repaint it. You may upload this file to another website as long as it is not for profit.
You need the written permission of the original authors to use any of these files for commercial purposes, otherwise a simple credit would be nice. Non commercial repaints-remakes are welcome but I would appreciate very much receiving a copy of your model.
This file should not cause any problems with your computer, but I accept no responsibility if you think it does
