Beechcraft T-34 Mentor – Cost: $800,000
Beechcraft cofounder Walter Beech oversaw the development of Beechcraft Model 45, which eventually became the T-34 Mentor. He wanted to design an alternative to the North American T-6/SNJ Texan. After the construction and success of prototypes, the United States Air Force ordered the aircraft to go into production, with the first entering service in 1953.