DAWGs in Alaska
 

T-34C Turbo Mentors enroute to Fairbanks, Alaska

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Nice shots, what a great aircraft. First solo was in one as a young jarhead.

For those not familiar: T-34 Mentor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The history of the fabulous Turbo Tormentor, the Navy's most advanced radial interceptor. Just as a side note, the 280 knot top speed listed could only be obtained in a very steep full power dive.:)

Thanks Jungle.
I still get a backseat ride every now and then.

USMCFLYR

The Tweet was a much better primary trainer.............would even to 280k in only a slight dive:D

Now if I could only hear your comeback................

Ferd
Way too many tweet hours to admit to;)

PS Great pictures. What were you doing that far north?

Ferd -

I wouldn't know anything about the Tweet being a better trainer because I never flew it; but I do know that the T-34C is a GREAT primary trainer. Of course I would have lost a months pay some time back when JPATS was being decided. I never would have guessed that the USAF would buy off on a turboprop trainer.

The FRS did a strike detachment to Eielson AFB and the dawgs were flown up there to act as low safes and such. They had quite the trip up and back - I forget where their stops were - Whitehorse maybe. Ketchikan. Juneau.

USMCFLYR

Those are some sweet-looking airplanes :) The second one has that classic P-40 look to it :cool:

Cool pictures!

And I never flew the T-34.....it does look like a kicka$$ plane.

I was actually on the staff at Randolph back when all that JPATs stuff was being worked. I flew what became the T-6 and wrote part of the report. The O-6s got to fly the jets that came through for consideration and us O-4s got to fly the turboprops......imagine that:D

The AF didn't want a turboprop and Cessna had a great little twin jet with almost everything off the shelf Citation stuff (engines, insturments, gear, etc etc). All in a front to back very sleek, very cheep shell. But, the Navy won the argument with the SecDef.

Oh well.............all trivia history now.

Once again, thanks for all your great pictures guys. I alway check this section first........even before the merger section and NWA/Delta food fight:eek:

Ferd

I am sure it was a great aircraft, it is just difficult to warm up to a 6,000lb dog whistle that only came up to a grown man's knees.:D

I always loved pulling up next to T-37s in either the T-2C or TA-4J; but on the other hand you always looked like the ugly step-sister when pulling up next to the T-38.

USMCFLYR