FAIRCHILD XNQ
BEECH JET MENTOR
This CD contains flight
manuals for three 1950's trainer
aircraft produced for the US military but which never
progressed further than the initial development stage.
The first flight manual
is for the Temco model 51, official
name Pinto. Initially proposed to the USAF as a primary
jet trainer, a contest won by the Cessna T-37, the
aircraft
was then evaluated by the US Navy who ordered a small
development batch. A total of 15 were built and used for
a short period at NAS Pensacola, where in 1959 one was
used by the first US Navy pilot to fly solo without any
propeller experience.
The second is the flight
manual for the Fairchild model 92,
initially developed for the US Navy as the XNQ. Up to that
point the US Navy had traditionally used versions of USAF
training aircraft. However the aircraft was rejected by the
US Navy. After modifications the aircraft was evaluated by
the USAF as the T-31. The aircraft was selected by the
USAF and an order for 100 was placed. This would have
made it the first US navy designed primary trainer to be
used by the USAF, but the order was subsequently
cancelled in favour of the T-34 Mentor.
The third flight manual
is for the Beechcraft Model 73 Jet
Mentor. Developed as a private venture from the T-34
Mentor
in the hopes of interest from the US military, the prototype
first flew in 1955. It was evaluated by the USAF who ordered
the Cessna T-37, and by US Navy who ordered the TT-1.
Only the single example was built.
This CD has been scanned
from the original flight manuals
and retains any colour pages.
