Original photo caption:

THE BEECHCRAFT JET MENTOR

     The new Beechcraft Model 73 Jet Mentor is based on the tried and proven Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. Both aircraft use many of the same component parts, and feature maximum performance, ease of operation and maintenance and outstanding economy. Both have been developed by Beech Aircraft as private ventures ready for military service throughout the world as "of-the-shelf" trainers.
     Students could easily start right off in the Jet Mentor without previous flight instruction. On the other hand, the T-34 and Model 73 are so similar that very little transition would be required to convert from one plane to the other.
     The new Beechcraft Jet Mentor represents a significant step forward in jet design simplicity. It is heavy enough to take it, light enough to be the world's most economical jet trainer.

Powered by a Continental J69-T-9 Turbojet engine.
Span: 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
Length: 30 ft 1.75 in (9.15 m)
Height: 9 ft 9.5 in (2.99 m)
Gross weight: 4,521 lb (2,051 kg)
Empty weight: 2,925 lb (1,327 kg)
Useful load: 1,596 lb (724 kg)
High speed: 295 mph (475 kmh) at 15,000 ft (4,570 m)
Cruise speed: 245 mph (394 kmh)
Dive speed: 500 mph (805 kmh)
Climb: 1,400 ft (430 m)/min
Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,535 m)

01/31/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "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."