Larry Penkava
Staff Writer
ASHEBORO —
A pair of vintage aircraft are on display for a limited time at the North Carolina Aviation Museum.
The Beechcraft Model 18 and the T-34A trainer are on loan to the Museum.
“We got both on short notice and short term,” said Rick Bondurant, general manager and curator of the Museum. “The Beech may be leaving in a couple of days. As for the T-34, we could have it for a few weeks.”
The Beechcraft, better known as the “Twin Beech,” is a twin-engine, low-wing plane manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corp. during World War II.
Military version include the Army Air Force C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator and AT-11 Kansan, and the Navy UC-45J Navigator and SNB-1 Kansan.
With seating for six to 11 passengers, the Twin Beech was used primarily for transport during the war.
Civilian uses include aerial spraying, sterile bug release, fish seeding, cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, ambulance service, skydiving and banner towing.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 9,300 pounds, the Twin Beech cruises at 186 mph with a range of 638 nautical miles.
The Beechcraft on loan is owned by A&M Aviation Inc.
Used by the Air Force as a primary flight trainer during the 1950s, the T-34A was first flown in December 1948.
Known as the “Mentor,” it was the standard Air Force trainer in the late 1950s until they were replaced by the T-37.
The plane was also used by the Navy and 10 foreign militaries. The T-34A has a maximum speed of 191 mph and a range of 821 miles. The aircraft on loan to the Museum is owned by Larry Richardson of Asheboro.
