Temco T-35 Buckaroo

Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Temco TE-1 or T-35 Buckaroo was designed in the late 1940s as an extremely low-cost trainer for commercial and export markets. Temco's failure to secure a USAF order for the Backaroo forced it to turn to foreign governments to keep the production lines going, yet only a few export orders materialized.

Design and development

Early in 1948 Temco’s President Robert McCulloch received an inquiry from the Philippine government expressing an interest in a tandem trainer version of the Swift airplane. The first TE-1A was a modification of the Swift GC-1B, hand-built to rough layout drawings, the major difference in appearance being the tandem seating arrangement which resulted in a narrow windshield and an elongated two-piece canopy with a fixed bubble at the rear. This TE-1A prototype was completed late in 1948. After initial flight tests a 145-hp Continental engine replaced the original 125-hp installation.

Early in 1949, Temco’s management received word that the United States Air Force planned to hold a competition early in 1949 for a new primary/basic trainer. Temco built two additional prototypes for this competition, adding some minor improvements as time permitted. The three aircraft were designated the YT-35 by the air force. Temco was competing with two other training airplanes, namely the Fairchild XNQ-1/T-31 and Beech Aircraft’s Model 45. On 24 February 1949, the Air Force trainer evaluation board chose the Beech Model 45 by a four-to-one vote. Temco’s TE-1A was a distant third.

Although the USAF had decided against the TE-1A, interest had increased on the part of foreign governments, particularly the Philippine Republic. After a study of the competition evaluation, Temco decided to proceed with a program to improve the TE-1A. Some of the redesign included:

A three-inch increase in the overall length of fuselage and a change in its cross section to be more compatible with the tandem seating.
The horizontal tail was raised nine inches.
Wing and fuselage fillets were added.
Improved landing gear with main gear relocation to improve ground handling characteristics.
Structural improvement in the wing to meet 9 G loading.
Equipment and equipment installation changes were made including a change from a 12-volt to a 24-volt electrical system and radio installation changes to meet Air Force standards.

Concurrent with all this redesign Temco had decided to build, on speculation, ten of these production models powered by 145-hp engines.

Operational history

Late in 1949 with the engineering and tooling about 75% complete, Temco received an order for three of the redesigned TE-1As that would be designated AF T-35. The Air Force trainer competition had been revived. An evaluation program using students flying competing aircraft would be held at Randolph Air Force Base. Following receipt of the Air Force order, Temco decided that in addition to the extensive changes that had been made to the TE-1A, a 165-hp Franklin engine would be installed. The Air Force agreed to the change, and this model was designated the TE-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 Air Force. One TE-1A was bought by the Israeli Air Force and a second one was bought by the Greek Air Force. In July, 1950, the three YT-35 Buckaroos were delivered to Randolph AFB to compete with the Beech T-34 Mentor, the Fairchild T-31, Boulton Paul Balliol, and the de Havilland DHC-1B Chipmunk trainers. Later in 1950 the Korean War disrupted many U.S. military programs including the YT-35 evaluation. The aircraft ended up at Connolly AFB, San Marcos, Texas.

1950 Temco TE-1B, *N904B* (Manufacturer's Serial number:6005) is privately owned

After ten months of rigorous training, the three YT-35s were returned to Temco in late July 1951, for factory overhaul. They then were assigned to Goodfellow AFB where later all three were sold as surplus. The majority of the TE-1Bs were sold to Saudi Arabia (designated T-35A) through the USAF under the mutual defense aid plan. 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-caliber machine guns, one mounted inside each wing and ten 2.75-inch rockets, five mounted under each wing.

Both Italy and Israel bought a single TE-1B Buckaroo in 1948 ^[1]. In 1950 the Israeli aircraft was evaluated along with the Fokker Instructor and the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk for possible use as a trainer with the IAF flight school. Losing the competition, the single Buckaroo was retired in late 1950 or early 1951.

Variants

Model TE-1A: Company designation for the Franklin 6A4-165-B3 engined version, six built (including three as YT-35).
Model TE-1B: Company designation for the Continental C-1425-2H engined version, ten built as the T-35A
YT-35: Model TE-1A with Franklin 6A4-165-B3 engine for evaluation by the United States Air Force, three built.
T-35A: Model TE-1B with Continental C-1425-2H engine for deliver to Saudia Arabia under Mutual Defence Aid Plan, 10 built.

Survivors

One T-35 is on display in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia. Two T-35s recovered from a Saudi desert "boneyard" are owned by The International Swift Association ^[1] in Athens, Tennessee. Currently five Buckaroos are registered in the United States. ^[2]

Specifications (Temco Buckaroo TE-1B)

Type: two seat training monoplane.
Dimensions: span - 29 ft 10 in (8.89 m), length - 21 ft 8 in (6.60 m), height - 1.87 m.
Powerplant: one Continental C145-2H.
Weights: empty - 1300 lb (590 kg), max. takeoff - 1840 lb (835 kg)
Performance: max. speed - 229 mph (368.54) km/h, range - 550 miles (750 km), ceiling - 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Armament: two 30-caliber machine guns, ten rockets

References

^ ^a ^b Dorr 1981, p. 835.
^ T-35A

Dorr, Robert F. "Temco YT-35 Buckaroo Trainer." Aviation News Vol. 19, no. 18, 18-31 January 1981.
Green, William and Pollinger, Gerald. The Aircraft of the World. London: Macdonald, 1955.