Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita

The Beechcraft AT‑10 Wichita was a twin‑engine advanced trainer developed in the early 1940s for the United States Army Air Forces. Conceived as a response to the need for a modern, high‑performance trainer to prepare pilots for the rapidly expanding fleet of twin‑engine combat aircraft, the AT‑10 first flew on 13 August 1942 and entered production later that year at Beechcraft’s Wichita, Kansas plant – hence the name. The aircraft featured a low‑wing, all‑metal airframe with a semi‑monocoque structure, retractable main landing gear, and a twin‑fin tail that gave it excellent stability at low speeds. Powered by two 450‑horsepower Pratt & Whitney R‑985 Wasp Junior radial engines, the AT‑10 could reach 210 mph and had a service ceiling of 20,000 ft, providing student pilots with realistic performance comparable to frontline bombers. More than 2,300 units were built, and they served in every major training base across the United States and abroad. The AT‑10’s reliability, forgiving handling, and straightforward maintenance made it a cornerstone of the WWII pilot‑training pipeline, helping to produce thousands of qualified multi‑engine aviators. Its legacy endures as a benchmark for later military trainer designs and as a beloved classic among vintage aircraft enthusiasts.

Beechcraft

Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita

Classification

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification