AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2023 - 38

BRIEFING
A IRCR AFT /
Papa Sierra, a 1953 T-34A, was one of around
400 civilian-owned Mentors that faced a strict
limitation imposed by the FAA after three, fatal
in-flight failures of wing spars, which eventually
led to the grounding of all T-34s.
" Papa Sierra was by far the most difficult
T-34 restoration because it took years to get
the wing AD sorted out, " said Paul. " It just laid
in the hangar on its side for a long time. "
" We trucked Papa Sierra to Amarillo, Texas,
to take care of the AD and other upgrades, " said
Jimmie. " After that we shipped the wings and
fuselage to Paul's hangar at Falcon Field and
ordered a 300-horsepower IO-550. "
It was over those years where all Hunt
hands were being put to work, including Paul's
son, Ryan, who was younger than 10 at the time.
" My dad made me go out to the hangar
Flying Mentors
Beechcraft T-34s take hold on family
BY CAYLA MCLEOD HUNT
MARRYING INTO AN AVIATION FAMILY has taught me two things: everything is always
subject to change, and I should never get attached to any certain airplane. The first point
might be true for most aviation families, but the second point is a little more unique.
My grandfather-in-law buys, sells, and trades airplanes like baseball cards.
Jimmie Hunt, 86, has owned more than 100 airplanes and airplane projects in his
life, and he is still going. Throughout his 70-year-long aviation career, a few airplane
purchases stand out: two P-51 Mustangs, a Hawker Sea Fury project, and his very first,
a Luscombe. While these airplanes have come and gone, one type has always stuck
around. Over the past 50 years, the Hunts have always had at least one Beechcraft
T-34 Mentor in their possession. The addiction began in the mid-1970s after Jimmie
and Leen Hunt purchased a stock T-34 from a Civil Air Patrol auction.
" They always interested me, " said Jimmie. " We liked the military theme and that
it was a basic trainer, but aside from that they are just an all-around fun airplane. "
This two-seat version of the Beechcraft Bonanza served as a military training
platform for two generations of U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots. Originally put into
service in 1953, the T-34A saw 59 years of continuous military use.
" Aside from it being the first warbird we ever owned, the T-34 just can't be beat, "
said Jimmie's son, Paul Hunt. " It's super easy to fly, there's lots of parts availability,
and it doesn't burn a lot of gas compared to something like a T-6. "
Mentors fit the Hunts' mission so perfectly that they acquired a dozen T-34s over
a nearly 50-year period.
" The nicest one we had was a red and white B model, " said Paul. " It was completely
restored with an IO-550 engine. But the one I like the most is the one that we have
now, Papa Sierra. It just means a lot to the family. "
38
AOPA PILOT / September 2023
Ryan Hunt flies Papa Sierra, his family's 1953
Beechcraft T-34A Mentor.
" I built a lot of my time in Papa Sierra, " said
Ryan. " That was one of the highest flight times
in my logbook. I earned my commercial rating
entirely in the T-34. "
Although Papa Sierra holds a special place
in the Hunts' hearts, I couldn't help but wonder
at the possibility of Papa Sierra finding its way
to Trade-A-Plane or Barnstormer.com one day.
Jimmie and Paul answered with a resounding
" no, " but once again the youngest Hunt had a
slightly different opinion. " I think I would be at
peace if it ever sold, " said Ryan. " I would be sad
to see it go, but I wouldn't cry over it. It's cool
to think of another family being able to build
memories with it, just as we have done. "
cayla.hunt@aopa.org
every day to help clean that project, " said Ryan.
" I hated it. I had a real lack of appreciation for
it. " Now a professional pilot, Ryan owes part of
his career to the airplane he once couldn't stand.
JIM RAEDER

http://www.Barnstormer.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2023

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