T-34 Mentor / USAFBeechcraft T 34 Mentor USAF airplane model. The T 34, first flown on December 2, 1948 by Beechcraft test pilot Vern Carstens, quickly became a staple in the United States Air Force and Navy. Its success was undeniable, and after a competitive bidding process, it was officially designated as the T 34A Mentor. The T 34A was produced from 1953 to 1956, with licensed versions also being built in Canada, Japan, and Argentina. Despite being replaced in the