Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita

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AT-10 Wichita
Beechcraft AT-10-GF in flight c1943.jpg
General information
TypeMilitary trainer aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Beechcraft
Primary user United States Army Air Forces
Number built2,371
History
Manufactured1942–1944
Introduction date1942
First flight1941

The Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita is an American World War II trainer built for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) by Beechcraft. It was used to train pilots for multi-engined aircraft such as bombers.

Contents

Development

"The flag of the United States and colors of the AAF Training Command Pilot School, George Field, Ill, flying overhead, the AT-10s flown by cadets taking advanced training." The flag of the United States and colors of the AAF Training Command Pilot School, George Field, Ill, flying overhead, the AT-10s flown by cadets taking advanced training.jpg
"The flag of the United States and colors of the AAF Training Command Pilot School, George Field, Ill, flying overhead, the AT-10s flown by cadets taking advanced training."

Beechcraft began designing the Model 25 early in 1940 in response to the requirement of the then-named United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) for a small twin-engined aircraft suitable for use in training student pilots in the handling of multi-engined retractable landing gear aircraft. As there were concerns at the time about a future possible shortage of aluminium, part of the requirement was that the aircraft be built of "non-strategic" materials. Beechcraft met this requirement by designing the aircraft to be built primarily from wood.

The Model 25 prototype was given to the USAAC for evaluation, but it was destroyed in a crash on 5 May 1941. The following day Beechcraft began work on the Model 26, which was soon ready, making its first flight on 19 July the same year. The type was accepted and deliveries began to the USAAF under the designation AT-10 in February 1942 at a time when US military fortunes were at their nadir.

The type was named "Wichita" after Wichita, Kansas, the location of the Beechcraft factory. By the end of 1942, 748 had been delivered and were playing a part in training crews for the vast fleets of bomber and transport aircraft that were pouring off factory production lines all over the United States. Beechcraft production terminated in 1943 after it had delivered 1,771 AT-10s. Globe Aircraft built another 600 before production finally ceased the following year.

Operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Surviving aircraft

Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita at the National Museum of the United States Air Force Beech AT-10 Wichita USAF.jpg
Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

Specifications

3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita 3-view line drawing.png
3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita

Data fromAmerican Warplanes of World War II [5]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes

  1. "Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita". AirCorps Aviation. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  2. Cravens, Chuck (4 May 2017). "Cadet AirCorps Museum AT-10 Project". AirCorps Aviation. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. "Beech AT-10 Wichita". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  4. "Airframe Dossier - Beech AT-10 Wichita, s/n 42-35143 USAAF, c/n 660-GF". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  5. Donald 1995, p.8.
  6. Air Force Museum Fact Sheet. National Museum of the US Air Force. Retrieved 4 Dec 2016.
  7. 1 2 Pelletier 1995, p. 86

Bibliography