Beechcraft
Beechcraft T-42A Cochise
The Beechcraft T-42A Cochise is a single‑engine, low‑wing trainer that entered service with the United States Air Force in the early 1960s. Developed from the civilian Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza, the T‑42A was built by Beechcraft under a joint venture with the USAF to provide an inexpensive, reliable platform for basic flight instruction and instrument training. First flight occurred in 1962 and a total of 115 airframes were delivered between 1963 and 1965. The aircraft features a 260‑horsepower Continental IO‑520‑D engine, a fully retractable tricycle landing gear, and a side‑by‑side cockpit equipped with dual flight controls, a modern (for its time) glass panel of flight instruments, and a simple avionics suite that could be upgraded to include VHF radios and navigation aids. Its steel tube fuselage with aluminum skin and all‑metal wing construction gave it durability and ease of maintenance. The T‑42A Cochise played a crucial role in transitioning cadets from propeller trainers to jet aircraft, shortening the learning curve and reducing costs for the Air Force training pipeline. Though retired in the late 1990s, the type remains a beloved example of Beechcraft’s ability to adapt civilian designs for military purposes, and several examples survive in museums and private hands.