The Wisconsin Wing members welcome all ages to explore their T-34 Mentor, proudly painted to honor its role as a U.S. Air Force trainer from 1953 to 1961.

Thanks to a few donors, Donations to this T-34 Mentor qualify for a matching donation up to $3,000.

History

This T-34 Mentor was manufactured in 1953 and delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1955 to be used for pilot training. It was assigned to the Civil Air Patrol in 1964, training pilots in Texas, Nevada, and Alabama. By 1971, it entered civilian ownership, where it underwent a complete restoration and upgrades to enhance its performance. Today, this classic trainer continues to embody a legacy of military and civilian aviation training.

Project

In October 1990, the aircraft was flown to Wisconsin, where it remained in storage until early 2017, when it was donated to the CAF and assigned to the Wisconsin Wing. After years in storage, an extensive restoration was needed and was funded by donors, sponsor pilots, corporate sponsors, and restoration grants. Led by Sam Cryer of Plane Safe, Inc., the aircraft was restored by 2021, though a setback required a new engine in 2022. The aircraft returned to flight in 2023 but still needs final adjustments: standard certification, intercom installation, and instrument relocation.

Objective

The T-34 served as a reliable training aircraft for the U.S. military, training generations of pilots. The Wisconsin Wing uses its T-34 Mentor for airshows and fly-ins, primarily to honor veterans through Honor Flights and memorial flyovers. This year, donations from the 12 Planes of Christmas campaign will help fund equipment needed to enable the aircraft to do more rides. These additions will enhance the Wing’s ability to fulfill the CAF’s mission to Educate, Inspire, and Honor through flight and living history experiences.