A Rare 1954 Beech B-45 (AKA T-34A) Arrives at Moab, Utah
On October 2, 2012, I was at Canyonlands Field, Moab, Utah fixing the webcam at Redtail Aviation. For unknown reasons, the MoabAirlines.com
webcam had gone dark just a few weeks before. Although it would take
several more trips to fix the webcam, I decided to stop work when an
unusual airplane arrived on the tarmac. Over the roar of an engine, one
of the mechanics said, “It’s a T-34A”.
By the time I had walked to the transient tie-down area, the engine had
stopped and the pilot was on the ground, retrieving his tie-down
equipment. 
“That was fast”, I said as he and his companion continued their work. I told him that I was always looking for another unusual aircraft
to photograph and that this was a good candidate. Without stopping his
work for more than a moment, he consented to my request.
With flawless gray paint, the number “021” and the words “U.S. Air
Force” on the airplane’s narrow fuselage, I felt like I had stepped
back into the early 1950’s. The Air Force banded-star logo and a
diagonal checkerboard pattern on the tail looked authentic to me. Only
the discreetly painted “N-134FA” painted on low, near the tail
indicated that this was a private, not a military aircraft.
With
no motorized tug available, the pilot hooked a handle to the nose wheel
and pushed. With a slight uphill grade before him, I was surprised how
quickly he got the heavy airplane moving. When he came almost to a halt, he asked his
companion for some help. Soon, the couple had the plane positioned in
its place on the tarmac. As I mentioned the unpredictable and erratic
winds that sometimes visit Canyonlands Field, the pilot quickly chained
each wing to a metal loop, cast into a concrete pad below.
As they worked, I noticed more details
on the airplane. There was a robust, retractable tricycle landing
gear. On each wingtip, there was a small, aerodynamic tank, which added
to on-board fuel reserves. Built for strength more than speed, most of
the rivets on the fuselage featured round heads, which protruded from
the metal skin. In various places, especially on the wings, more
aerodynamic flush-rivets had replaced the old round-headed ones.
Earlier, it appeared, this plane had received an overhaul of its
airframe. The three-point prop and its shiny spinner bespoke of a recent engine overhaul or replacement.
Soon,
the canopy cover was on, special cushions sealed the engine air intakes
and the crew of two was ready to depart. As if on cue, a van pulled up
and an adventure outfitter chauffeured them to their next destination.
In about twenty minutes, this couple had landed, tied down their
airplane and departed. As if the airplane flight was not enough for
this adventurous couple, they had an afternoon hike planned in the Canyonlands near Moab.
If you see an airplane and wonder, “Who owns that?” copy down the
“N-Number”, which is found on or near the tail. Access the internet and
go to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Search Page. Type in the
N-Number and then click “Submit”. In a moment or two, you will receive a
summary of the airplane in question, including its type, age and
ownership. Although I had given a business card to the pilot, Moab can be a distracting place, so perhaps he lost my card or forgot to write.
When I conducted a FAA search on “N-134FA”, I found many interesting
details about the supposed T-34A aircraft. Although similar to the Air
Force designated Beech Model T-34A Mentor that its markings indicated,
this aircraft was actually a Beech Model B-45,
manufactured in 1954. As a Beech B-45 of that particular vintage, it
was a U. S. manufactured military trainer intended for sale to the
export market. Current registration for the airplane is by Fast
Aircraft, Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona. Beyond that, I will have to wait
for the pilot or his crew to see this posting and provide new or better
information.
After publication of this article, we heard from owner and pilot Todd McCutchan. Following are his comments:
Hi Jim,
So it is a 1954 Beech T-34A (B-45). The B-45 was the export version of
the T-34A which was built for the USAF. My particular aircraft went
down to Chile where it was used to train fighter pilots and was
outfitted with gun pods / bomb racks to gunnery / bombing training and
perhaps some light ground attack.
It was returned to the USA in as a group of 20+ other T-34’s that were
negotiated to be purchased by a private USA company in 1990. Since then
it has been heavily modified and restored. The original 225 hp engine
has been replaced with a 285 hp engine and all of the avionics, wiring,
electrical system have been updated and most other systems have been
overhauled or replaced.
I am the 2nd owner since its return to the USA and purchased the
aircraft in 2009. My wife and I fly it around the USA where we
participate in airshows and fly-ins as well as give rides to young
people hoping for a career in the air and returning veterans to the
air.
I have a written a few articles about the T-34 and its history which you will find here and here.
Kind regards,
Todd McCutchan
Fast Aircraft
T-34A - N134FA
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