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BEECHCRAFT CT-134 MUSKETEER Only one out of eleven pilot applicants to Canada's Air Force actually obtains his or her pilot wings.
Canadian military flight training is an intensive ten week course that includes a minimum of twenty seven hours of flying exercises in the air over CFB Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. During primary flight training, student pilots must display proficiency in spinning, forced landings, stalls and must perform a three maneuver acrobatic display. After ten of eleven candidates arc weeded out, the successful candidates then move on to No. 2 jet training school at CFB Moosejaw, Saskatchewan.
Based on the proven airframe of the Beechcraft 23, the CT-134 Musketeer was a very simple and reliable aircraft that was brought on strength by the Canadian Forces in I970 to replace the RCAF's elderly fleet of De Haviland Chipmunk trainers. In the hands of young trainees, the CT-134 was a very forgiving aircraft having predictable handling characteristics. Although modified to be more prone to spins and stalls, the Musketeer offered little challenge to the progressive pilot candidate working towards jet training.
The Musketeer was withdrawn from service 1992 to be replaced by the new Raytheon Harvard II turboprop primary trainer. The Toronto Aerospace Museums Musketeer, #220, served with No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying School at CFB Portage la Prairie.
Photo from Strannik.
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