01/31/2008. America’s first light single-engine jet plane was a
low-cost, economical, high-performance two-seat tandem jet trainer.
The private venture was designed and built to Air Force and Navy
specifications using many parts and production tooling from the Jet
Mentor’s predecessor, the propeller-driven T-34 Mentor.
The prototype was first flown by test pilot Tom Gillespie on December
18, 1955. It was evaluated by the USAF and US Navy, but none was
ordered and N134B remained the only Jet Mentor built. The aircraft is
presently at the Wichita Aviation Museum, although in a deteriorating
state. View also photo 2723.
