Space History Photo: Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor

News
By
published
space history, NASA, unique aircraft
Most often used as a photo chase aircraft, the Beech T-34C was used in some research as well. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, the Beech T-34C Turbo Mentor, while most often flown as a photo chase aircraft, has performed research itself, notably with a laminar flow gloved wing. The aircraft, seen here in June of 1978, is equipped with a luggage pod under its starboard wing.

In 1989, the T-34 was used to sample Space Shuttle exhaust during mission STS-34.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

NASA Archives
NASA Archives
U.S. Space Agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.