| T-35 Buckaroo / TE-1 | |
|---|---|
 The first YT-35 for evaluation by the USAF | |
| General information | |
| Type | trainer |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Temco Aircraft |
| Primary user | Saudi Arabia |
| Number built | 26[citation needed] |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1948 |
| First flight | 1948, (TE-1B: 20 February 1950) |
| Developed from | Globe Swift |
TheTemco T-35 Buckaroo (company designationTE-1) was designed in the late 1940s as an extremely low-costtrainer for commercial and military markets. Temco's failure to secure aUnited States Air Force order for the Buckaroo forced it to turn to non-U.S. governments to keep the production lines going, yet only a fewexport orders materialized.
Early in 1948, Temco's president, Robert McCulloch, received an inquiry from thePhilippine Government expressing an interest in a tandem trainer version of the Swift. The firstTE-1A was a modification of theSwift GC-1B, hand-built to rough layout drawings, the major difference in appearance being the tandem seating arrangement which resulted in a narrowwindshield and an elongated two-piececanopy with a fixed bubble at the rear. This TE-1A prototype was completed late in 1948. After initial flight tests a 145 hp (108 kW) Continental engine replaced the original 125 hp (93 kW) installation.
Early in 1949, Temco's management received word that theUnited States Air Force (USAF) planned to hold a competition for a new primary/basic trainer. Temco built two additionalprototypes for this competition, adding some minor improvements as time permitted. The three aircraft were designated theYT-35 by the Air Force. Temco was competing with two other training aircraft, namely theFairchild XNQ-1/T-31 and theBeechcraft Model 45. On 24 February 1949, the Air Force trainer evaluation board chose the Beech Model 45 by a four-to-one vote with Temco's TE-1A a distant third. Due to budget cuts, the USAF program was ultimately cancelled that year.[1]
Although the USAF had decided against the TE-1A, interest had increased on the part of foreign governments, particularly theRepublic of the Philippines. After a study of the competition evaluation, Temco decided to proceed with a program to improve the TE-1A. Some of the redesign included:
Concurrent with all this redesign, Temco had decided to build, on speculation, 10 of these production models powered by 145 hp (108 kW) engines.
Late in 1949 with the engineering and tooling about 75% complete, three of the TE-1As redesignedYT-35 were entered in the revived USAF trainer competition commencing in 1950.[1] An evaluation program using students flying competing aircraft would be held atRandolph Air Force Base. Following receipt of the USAF order, Temco decided that in addition to the extensive changes that had been made to the TE-1A, a 165 hp (123 kW) Franklin engine would be installed. The USAF agreed to the change, with this model designated theTE-1B and given the name “Buckaroo”. Development of the TE-1A and the TE-1B continued concurrently. The TE-1A was designated for export, and the TE-1B was for the USAF. One TE-1A was bought by theIsraeli Air Force and a second one was bought by theGreek Air Force.[1]
In July 1950, the threeYT-35 Buckaroos were delivered to Randolph AFB to compete with theYT-34 Mentor, theFairchild T-31,Boulton Paul Balliol, and thede Havilland DHC-1B Chipmunk trainers. Later in 1950, theKorean War disrupted many U.S. military programs, including the YT-35 evaluation. The aircraft ended up at James Connally Air Force Base, now calledTSTC Waco Airport nearWaco, Texas.
After 10 months of rigorous testing, the three YT-35s were returned to Temco in late July 1951, for factory overhaul. They then were assigned toGoodfellow Air Force Base where later all three were sold as surplus.
The majority of the TE-1Bs were sold toSaudi Arabia (designatedT-35A) through the USAF under theMutual Defense Aid Program. Temco's contract with the Saudis called for ten T-35A aircraft and enough spares to keep them flying for years. The Saudi Arabian T-35A aircraft included two 30-calibermachine guns, one mounted inside each wing and ten 2.75-inchrockets, five mounted under eachwing.
BothItaly andIsrael bought a single TE-1B Buckaroo in 1948.[1] In 1950, the Israeli aircraft was evaluated against theFokker Instructor and theDHC-1 Chipmunk for possible use as a trainer with the IAFflight school. Losing the competition, the single Buckaroo was retired in late 1950 or early 1951.
One T-35A is on display inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia. Two T-35As recovered from a Saudi desert "boneyard" are owned by The International Swift Association[1] inAthens, Tennessee, USA. Currently five Buckaroos are registered in the United States.[4]
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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