Our Aircraft’s History

Cessna T-37B “Tweet” (S/N 60-0188; MSN #40685) ~ This “Tweet” is one of the aircraft that MAPS Air Museum owns outright. Manufactured by Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas and delivered to the US Air Force on December 29, 1961. The first assignment be the US Air Force was to the 3575th Pilot Training Wing, Air Training Command (ATC) at Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma.  Here is where she hoped around to:

  • November 1969 – 3560th Pilot Training Wing, ATC, Webb AFB, Texas
  • November 1973 – 78th Flying Training Wing, ATC, Webb AFB, Texas
  • August 1977 – 12th Flying Training Wing, ATC, Randolph AFB, Texas
  • June 1978 – 14th Flying Training Wing, ATC, Columbus AFB, Mississippi; deployed to Randolph AFB, Texas
  • January 1982 – 88th Flying Training Squadron, ATC Sheppard AFB, Texas
  • April 1985 – 80th Flying Training Wing, ATC, Sheppard AFB, Texas; used as ground instructional airframe as of March 10, 2004
  • November 2007 – Dropped from inventory and purchased by private collector in Mansfield, Ohio

MAPS Air Museum was able to recover the aircraft and moved the T-37 to our museum in November of 2012.  She is maintained by Crew Chief Paul Gates and was just recently had finishing touches done to to aircraft.  

Specifications/Performance

  • Role: Jet trainer
  • Manufacturer: Cessna
  • First flight: October 12, 1954
  • Introduction: 1957
  • Retired: 2009 (USAF)
  • Produced 1955-1975
  • Built: 1,269
  • Crew: 2 (pilot, trainer)
  • Length: 29 ft 3 in
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 9 in
  • Height: 9 ft 2 in
  • Empty weight: 4,056 lb
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,574 lb
  • Engines: 2 x Continental-Teledyne J69-T-25 turbjets, 1,025 lbf each
  • Max speed: 425 mph
  • Cruise speed: 360 mph
  • Range: 932 mi
  • Service ceiling: 38,700 ft

Armament, notable (T-37C weapons trainer)

  • .50 caliber machine gun (200 rounds)
  • 2 x 2.75 in folding fin rocket pods
  • 4 x practice bombs

Museum display notes: further information to come

Designed to replace: Lockheed T-33 “Shooting Star”

Replaced by: Beechcraft T-6 “Texan II”