Posted on 08/19/2016 8:03:30 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Northrop Grummans entry for the T-X competition was publicly revealed on 19 August in Mojave, California.
Dubbed the Model 400, the Northrop bid is powered by a single GE Aviation F404-102D engine with 17,200lb-thrust, according to the US Federal Aviation Adminitrations aircraft registration database.
Scaled Composites, the Northrop subsidiary devoted to rapid prototyping and flight testing, registered the aircraft on 16 June 2015, but the design was kept under wraps for several more months.
Images of the aircraft on Twitter show an aircraft with a prominent, single vertical fin and a nose section similar to the T-38.
Northrop revealed a model of the T-X concept to a small group of journalists in mid-December last year during a tour of the companys plant in nearby Palmdale.
Northrop is one of four competitors vying to replace the companys venerable T-38C as the US Air Forces advanced jet trainer.
Raytheon is proposing the T-100 variant of the twin-jet Leonardo M346 Master. Lockheed Martin is offering a modified version of the Korea Aerospace/Lockheed single-engined T-50 Golden Eagle. Boeing has partnered with Saab to offer a clean-sheet design, which has not been revealed.
The USAF plans to buy more than 300 T-X aircraft over the next decade. A draft request for proposals was released to industry last month.
David Kern (@David_Kern)
I suppose a single engine jet would be more economical to operate?
Reminds me of the F-5
Does it have the Mrs. Halverson Series electronics?
Northrop designed the T-38, the F-5 was derived from it. Amazing that it’s been in service for over 50 years.
Which is essentially the same thing as the T-38. T-38 is the trainer version and the F-5 is used for dissimilar air combat training. It’s basically an update of the 38.
Awwww... That loudest of loud T-37 Tweet still around ?
I believe when you make astronaut you’re given a T-38 for personal travel, to keep your flying skills sharp.
Wondering where that pic was taken? I ran 4X-ICO thru the aviation database, and it said that 747-300 behind the T-X was retired on 30 Sep 2014, then scrapped. Next to an aviation boneyard must be? Just curious...
For use when you are commuting on the freeway to the office?
>>I believe when you make astronaut youre given a T-38 for personal travel, to keep your flying skills sharp.
I’m pretty sure that used to be the case, and may still be.
A friend used to live just south of Patrick AFB (like within sight of the south base boundary), and you could often see the T-38s there, when driving by on A1A. They were like the astronauts’ sports cars.
It is called the 6000# dog whistle!
Astronauts train in widespread places. They also do a lot of PR work for NASA. It's part of the job.
Now of course there are a lot of non-pilot astronauts, so I guess they catch a ride with the pilots. T-38s are two seat trainers.
Mojave airport is essentially a graveyard or temporary graveyard for jets.
Ah, thanks!
“Next to an aviation boneyard must be? Just curious...”
It says Mojave Airport. At one time they had aircraft storage there and may still have it.
Scaled Composites is in Mojave.
Retired in 2009
Oh, duh. Well, it’s late and I’m tired anyhoo. Not observant at this hour either, obviously, even for an old detail freak.
Thanks, saw it when I reread it after the fact...
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