Florida Wing Deland, FL
T-34 Mentor More Info
The Beechcraft Mentor was the brainchild of Walter Beech, who saw the need for a less expensive and easier-to-fly trainer than the North American Texan/SNJ/Harvard, which the Air Force, U.S. Navy and the United Kingdom used for primary training throughout the 1940s. In November of 1946 Beechcraft had received its Approved Type Certificate on the all new Model 35 Beechcraft Bonanza. By the end of 1977, Beechcraft had produced 10,000 of these popular, record setting, V-tailed civil aircraft.
Based in the East Hangar Complex at the DeLand Florida Airport, the Florida Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is the only unit of the national CAF organization located in Florida. The mission of the Florida Wing is the education of future generations of Americans to value and support the contributions of military aviation in assuring our nation’s freedom.
The Florida Wing maintains a flying T-34 Navy Trainer as part of the CAF’s national fleet of flyable vintage aircraft. Volunteers at the Wing are responsible for maintaining, flying and exhibiting the airplane.
Housed in the Wing’s aircraft hangar, the Robbins Memorial Library/Museum Collection includes aviation memorabilia and a library of aviation-related books, tapes, historic movies, oral histories and photos.
The Wing has established Educational Outreach Programs available to area groups and organizations. Programs are tailored to the interests of specific groups and may include presentations, library/museum tours, hangar tours and/or aircraft exhibits.
The Wing holds “workdays”, open to members and non-members alike, each Saturday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM throughout the year. The workdays provide an opportunity for attendees to assist in aircraft maintenance under professional supervision and to assist in hangar maintenance operations. Additionally, during these workday hours, the library and museum collections are available to students, residents and visitors for research.
Florida Wing membership is open to all members of the national CAF organization. Dues for the national organization are $200 annually; Florida Wing membership is $75 per year. Aircraft sponsorships, with flying privileges for qualified individuals, are available to Florida Wing CAF members.
No events currently scheduled.
