CORTRAMID West T-34 flight

[MasterBates]

And why are we scrapping them again? Surplus auction them, make them have experimental certs to CYA if needed....

 

[KBayDog]

And why are we scrapping them again? Surplus auction them, make them have experimental certs to CYA if needed....

Don't know anything about the "low safe" program for fast-movers, but if the intent is to have essentially a spotter aircraft for ranges, is there any reason why they can't continue to be used for that purpose with stricter NATOPS limits (make aerobatics verboten, limit AOB, etc.)? If that's no bueno, what about transferring them to other agencies, much like the OV-10s out there?

Hell, our Phrogs were apparently too bent for us, but DynCorp thinks they're A-OK...

 

[Gatordev]

Don't know anything about the "low safe" program for fast-movers, but if the intent is to have essentially a spotter aircraft for ranges, is there any reason why they can't continue to be used for that purpose with stricter NATOPS limits (make aerobatics verboten, limit AOB, etc.)? If that's no bueno, what about transferring them to other agencies, much like the OV-10s out there?

Hell, our Phrogs were apparently too bent for us, but DynCorp thinks they're A-OK...

They're doing just that. Many/much of the T-34s are just too old to continue. They're cracking wing spars and their airframes have been over-g'ed too many times that they've hit FLM. However, some out there still have some life left in them, and those are the ones going to the various fleet commands to replace ones that are either too old or that were needed to augment the TRACOM.

I would guess that, with maybe the exception of the Phrog, most planes that were sent to other entities didn't have anywhere near the hours and, more importantly, the fatigue that the T-34 has. Why would an agency buy something they'd have to re-spar anyway?

 

[nugget61]

Those cut up T-34s are pretty sad. Kinda off topic, but is there anyway to get souvenir parts?

 

[KBayDog]

I would guess that, with maybe the exception of the Phrog, most planes that were sent to other entities didn't have anywhere near the hours and, more importantly, the fatigue that the T-34 has. Why would an agency buy something they'd have to re-spar anyway?

True. I forgot that, back in the day, we didn't fly airframes for three to five decades before retiring them.