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Northrop T-38A 'Talon'

Description
Notes: LOW-WING, supersonic jet trainer (2 CREW) .
  Manufacturer:Northrop
  Base model:T-38
  Designation:T-38
  Version:A
  Nickname:Talon
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1948-Present
  Basic role:Trainer

Specifications
  Length: 46' 4" 14.1 m
  Height:12' 10" 3.9 m
  Wingspan: 25' 3" 7.7 m
  Wingarea: 170.0 sq ft 15.7 sq m
  Empty Weight: 7,164 lb 3,248 kg
  Gross Weight: 11,759 lb 5,333 kg
  Max Weight: 12,093 lb 5,484 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 2
  Powerplant: General Electric J85-GE-5A (A/B 3,850Lb
  Thrust (each): 2,680 lb 1,215 kg

Performance
  Range: 1,093 miles 1,760 km
  Cruise Speed: 578 mph 930 km/h 502 kt
  Max Speed: 812 mph 1,307 km/h 706 kt
  Climb: 30,000 ft/min 9,143 m/min
  Ceiling: 53,600 ft 16,336 m

Operators (Past and Present)
USAF 9th RW Beale AFB CA
USAF 12th FTW Randolph AFB TX
USAF 14th FTW Columbus AFB MS
USAF 47th FTW Laughlin AFB TX
USAF 49th FW Holloman AFB NM
USAF 64th FTW Reese AFB TX
USAF 71st FTW Vance AFB OK
USAF 80th FTW Sheppard AFB TX
USAF 509th BW Whiteman AFB MO
USAF Sacramento ALC McClellan AFB CA

Known serial numbers
58-1194 / 58-1197, 59-1594 / 59-1601, 59-1602 / 59-1606, 59-2868 / 59-2872, 60-0547 / 60-0553, 60-0554 / 60-0561 , 60-0562 / 60-0596 , 60-0597 / 60-0605 , 61-0804 / 61-0947 , 62-3609 / 62-3752 , 63-8111 / 63-8247 , 64-13166 / 64-13305 , 65-10316 / 65-10475 , 66-4320 / 66-4389 , 66-8349 / 66-8404 , 67-14825 / 67-14859 , 67-14915 / 67-14958 , 68-8095 / 68-8217 , 69-7073 / 69-7088 , 70-1549 / 70-1591 , 70-1949 / 70-1956 , 158197 / 158201 , 510327 , 591603 / 591604 , 600582 , 610851 , 610855 , 610882 , 610889 , 610913 , 610918 , 610929 , 638200

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
Air Force Flight Test Center MuseumEdwards AFBCalifornia
Blackbird AirparkPalmdaleCalifornia
Columbus AFBColumbus AFBMississippi
Edward F. Beale MuseumBeale AFBCalifornia
Kelly Field Heritage MuseumKelly AFBTexas
Laughlin AFBLaughlin AFBTexas
Maxwell AFB Air ParkMaxwell AFBAlabama
Pima Air & Space MuseumTucsonArizona
Prairie Aviation MuseumBloomingtonIllinois
Randolph AFBRandolph AFBTexas
Reese AFBReese AFBTexas
Sheppard AFB Air ParkSheppard AFBTexas
USAF AcademyUSAF AcademyColorado
USAF History and Traditions MuseumSan AntonioTexas
United States Air Force MuseumWright-PattersonOhio
Vance AFBVance AFBOklahoma

T-38A on display


Air Force Flight Test Center Museum

Blackbird Airpark

Columbus AFB

Maxwell AFB Air Park

Pima Air & Space Museum

Prairie Aviation Museum

Reese AFB

Sheppard AFB Air Park

USAF Academy
   


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Rodney Peters
 Pierre, SD
I worked the same ground as an earlier poster,
Williams AFB AZ Lima flight in 1973-1974 I was a crew chief on these fine birds.
I came from T-37’s (Baker flight same base) and these were far easier to maintain. Of course to give you some reference the tweets I worked on had 2 to 3 times their expected lifetime hours on them and they were still ticking!
I was at the Air museum 3 years ago in Tucson AZ and I took my wife and dad on a post flight walk around on a T- 38 they had there, and I was amazed at what I remembered and how enjoyable working with aircraft was.
We also lost a few crews in these planes but I would say all I was aware of where pilot errors. As has been pointed out trainees make mistakes and sometimes gravity wins. But still the number of hours that were flown was just incredible, it was surprising we did not have more loses.
Thanks guys for the site and posters for reminding me of one of the best times (and best jobs) in my life.

07/31/2008 @ 10:38 [ref: 22311]
 Joe Vincent
 Cordova, TN
I have well over 2000 hours flying the T-38A and the AT-38B. I flew them at Columbus AFB from 1970-1975 and Holloman AFB from 1976 to 1978. There were accidents (some fatal) at those bases while I was there. But considering the number of hours flown the accident rate was very low. Compare that to the 7 MONTH PERIOD of my F-100 training at Luke AFB in 1969 when there were seven F-104 accidents with 3 fatalities! That's a "widow maker!"

The T-38 is like the best sports car you could ever imagine. My Ops Officer in Vietnam had been a test pilot who had flown all the Century Series fighters, several Navy fighters, and numerous other USAF planes. When asked his favorite, he immediately said the T-38. He said it was the "most responsive and forgiving supersonic plane he'd ever flown, and when you strapped it on, it became an extension of YOU."
05/31/2008 @ 23:35 [ref: 21066]
 Rick Danzey
 Victorville, CA
I flew the T-38 at Columbus Jan 1973 to Sep 1976 and then at Holloman in June 1977 and Dec 1979 - Mar 1980. NEVER a Widow Maker whether in the basic training mode or in the advanced training mode. The memories come back so fast after reading the press release. My wife and I just shared about a similar incident at Columbus when we were there. S*** happens. When you fly, nothing is perfect. The only 100% PK is the ground.
04/24/2008 @ 20:35 [ref: 20712]
 Warren Knight
 Somerset, MA
I was a crew chief in Lima Flight (yellow tales) at Williams AFB from 1982-1984. Alot has changed at "Willie"
but one thing has not; the T-38A is still flying.
I remember one flight I launched where the base commander and a rooky went up and came back on one engine after a lightning strike, man were they lucky...man was I unlucky, I had to schedule all the work to fix it! Another infamous flight took place where Scooter (Scott Steiner) left a body panel in the cockpit along side the seat, and when the plane went inverted (base commander again) out popped the panel ending up over the commanders head. Wow!
QC had a field day with that one, and the commander wasn't to happy either. Bird strikes were pretty prevalent. One such incedent happened and the thing went down the intake and nertzed the number one engine, they made it back on one engine, but the mess, and the stench was overwhelming.
Still I had to scrape out the mess being I was the "Jeep" at the time. 82nd OMS Kick the Tires and Light the Fires
01/05/2008 @ 20:17 [ref: 19168]
 Larry Smith
 Celina, TN
I crewed T38 from 1973 to 1977 at Columbus AFB , To Call the T38 A widow maker is not at all correct. The White Rocket save many a mans life.It kept those people who could not handle high landing speeds from ever getting beyond training.
It was a simple acft to maintain cheep on the tax payers,they should leve well enough alone. NO glass cockpits. However in the days before solid state nav systems, Miss. rain could ground the the fleet.
09/18/2007 @ 09:19 [ref: 17953]
 Guy E. Franklin
 Ft George Meade, MD
T-38A "Widow Maker?" I am a retired crew chief of which the T-38A/F-5 and later NASA styled modified T-38s made a good portion of my career. The T-38 A-Z is, wass and will never be a wdiow maker. The only USAF aircraft that could truly be called a widow maker would be the F-104 aand that is because the aircraft design and performance were way ahead of its time i.e. fly by wire and computer technology.

However, saying that the T-38's basic mission is to "TRAIN;" and needless to say accidents will occur while during training. The equation is simple high performance aircraft + inexpierinced pilots equal high accident rates. As well as the T-38 along with the F-4 phantom has to be one of the most produced aircraft since 1959.

Now that I have praised the aircraft let me be fair and balanced and say that the T-38 is notorious for "Talon Bites." The pencil drains to the rear of the aircraft by the air start doors still have scars on my back since 1976.
:) oorah!
09/17/2007 @ 03:42 [ref: 17940]
 L. Dean Davis
 Spring Hope, NC
I worked on T-38A's from 86-97. I miss those planes as they were my children. I still believe that was the best job I ever had. I was lucky to learn almost every system during my time on it and that experience has helped me tons since.
04/28/2007 @ 17:12 [ref: 16339]
 L. Dean Davis
 Spring Hope, NC
I worked on T-38A's for 11 years. I still believe that was one of the better jobs I ever had. I was lucky to learn almost every system during my time on it and that experience has helped me tons since. I miss those planes as they were my children.
04/28/2007 @ 17:10 [ref: 16338]
 Thom
 San Antonio, TX
I've started working on T38's and F5's in early 1979. I have always thought they were without a doubt the best supersonic trainer the Air Force has ever bought. This aircraft is very forgiving but as anyone could tell you accidents happen. I have been witness to a few.. but only one fatality, and it was pilot error. The now 2 year old glass cockpit was an absolute must if pilots are to continue to train in them. Not too many F15's, F16's, F22's or F-anythings have the old analog instrumentation anymore. Pilots now train on something similar to what they will be flying. The PMP engine mod now allows for a wider range of operation temperature-wise but has taken some of the performance edge away. I'm convinced they'll easily be flying until 2020... I just don't know if I'll be working on them.
11/19/2006 @ 20:02 [ref: 14786]
 S. Hall
 Seattle, WA
Here at King County Boeing field, (KBFI) we fly the T38 nearly everyday in support of Boeing Commercial flight test. Its a good stable platform for the camera and is simple to maintain. Our other aircraft are T-33s and the T-38 runs circles around it!!

Cheers!
10/12/2006 @ 15:02 [ref: 14434]

 

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