Experience the thrill of aviation with a 90-minute flight in a 1955 T-34A Beech Mentor!
The winner will enjoy a personalized flight experience, with options ranging from a scenic tour of the Flathead Valley with stunning views of Glacier National Park to an out-and-back cross-country adventure to another airport, or any combination thereof. Fly solo for the full 90 minutes or split your time and invite a companion to share in the experience, the winner and pilot will collaborate to tailor the flight to their preferences.
Your skilled pilot will be a member of the current or former A.L.E.R.T. pilots who fly the plane, ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey.
Plus, to top off this incredible experience, the winner will receive a $50 gift card to Latitude 48 and a bottle of wine donated by Tom Ray.
This aircraft, N3789G, is a 1955 T-34A Beech Mentor. The T-34 was manufactured by Beechcraft for its role as the primary trainer for the Air Force and Navy and hence the name Mentor, as in "teacher". It was the first post-WW2, specifically-designed military trainer. The "A" model was used by the Air Force and the "B" model by the Navy. There are only minor differences between the two models. A later version, the "C" model with a turboprop engine, greatly extended the life of the T-34 with the Navy. All T-34s are set up in a two-seat, tandem configuration. For most flights the student was in the front seat with the instructor in the back. Positions were switched for instrument training with the student in the rear covered by a large canopy with no view to the outside world to simulate being in clouds.
N3789G has been modified with several structural improvements, an engine upgrade, new paint, and up-to-date avionics while still matching the appearance of a 1950s plane on an Air Force base. The restoration took most of 2018 and was capped with an award as Best T-34 at the EAA Oshkosh airshow in 2019.
