Temco TT Pinto
Temco Aircraft · United States · first flew 1956 · light aircraft
The Temco TT-1 Pinto was a compact single-engine jet trainer developed in the mid-1950s as a low-cost primary jet trainer for the US Navy, intended to give student pilots their first jet experience before transitioning to more powerful types.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single Continental J69 turbojet in rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat light jet trainer with side-by-side seating option
- Straight low wing with tip tanks
- Single Continental J69 turbojet in rear fuselage
The Pinto is a very clean, small low-wing jet with straight wings, tip tanks, side-by-side seating under a bubble canopy, and no visible engine intake on the sides — air enters through a nose intake.
Specifications
- The Temco TT Pinto has a length of 9.45 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.16 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 685 km/h (426 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1956, the Pinto was ordered in small numbers by the US Navy as the TT-1. It used the Continental J69 turbojet (licence-built Marboré) in a rear fuselage installation. Only 14 were built before the Navy changed its training philosophy, preferring turboprop trainers for ab-initio jet transition, ending the Pinto's career early.
Variants
The TT-1 was the sole production variant for the US Navy; no significant sub-variants were produced. Cessna was involved in some production aspects.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively and briefly by the US Navy at VT training squadrons in the late 1950s and early 1960s; all were retired by the mid-1960s.
Related aircraft
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