NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Chase aircraft such as the T-34C accompany research flights for photography and video purposes. They also provide support for safety and research. At Dryden, the T-34 is used mainly for smaller remotely piloted vehicles which fly slower than NASA's F-18's, used for larger scale projects. (NASA Photo/Jim Ross) Dryden's mission support T-34C aircraft accompanies research flights for photography and video data collection, and also as safety chase. At Dryden, the T-34C is primarily used for chasing remotely piloted unmanned air vehicles which fly slower than NASA's F-18's mission support aircraft can fly. It is also used for required pilot proficiency flying.

In its role as a military trainer, the instructor pilot would ride in the back seat, while the student would be in the front seat. As a NASA mission support chase plane, the back seat would be occupied by a photographer or flight test engineer on research missions.

Nicknamed the TurboMentor, the T-34C is an upgraded, turboprop-powered version of the earlier piston-engined T-34A and T-34B models that served as primary training aircraft for Navy and Marine Corps pilots for more than 40 years. Built by Beech Aircraft Co. (now Raytheon Aircraft), the T-34C shares the same basic wing planform and landing gear as the civilian Beechcraft Bonanza series of general aviation aircraft from which it was derived.

Points of Contact

Jim Smolka
Director for Flight Operations (Acting)
661.276.3210
jim.smolka-1@nasa.gov

Mariaelena A. Nichols
Flight Operations Business Analyst
661.276.3099
Mariaelena.A.Nichols@nasa.gov

---