Happy 50th Birthday, T-38 Talon

Valley Press on ^ | Monday, April 20, 2009. | Sr. Airman Julius Delos Reyes 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

[BenLurkin]

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Fifty years and an old runway ago, a T-38 Talon flew over Edwards, marking the beginning of its career. From then on, the aircraft continued to add to its list of accomplishments, and on April 10, Team Edwards celebrated the T-38's first flight and its historical achievements.

The T-38 is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. The T-38 has swept wings, a "soda-bottle" shaped fuselage and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems power the ailerons, rudder and other flight control surfaces.

"It is a cheap, cost-effective supersonic trainer for the Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Anthony Accurso, of the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum. "It has been a major piece of history. Most of our service's pilots have flown that airplane over the past 50 years."

Five decades after first streaking across the Mojave Desert, the sleek jet is still a common sight in the skies over Edwards.

"The Talon is the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School curriculum," said Jay Dunham, the school's T-38 chief pilot. "Approximately 50% of our curriculum sorties are flown in the T-38. The combination of speed, maneuverability and classic flying qualities make it an effective platform for developing the core competencies required of our graduates."

Recently, Maj. Brian Deas, Test Pilot School student, piloted the aircraft during a performance data collection sortie.

"After flying the T-38, it was clear why it had been around for so long," Maj. Deas said. "The aircraft is perfectly designed for its mission. It is easy to operate through a wide range of performance capabilities."

[jnsun]

I wonder if the engines have remained the same. They really didn't deliver much thrust, as I recall 6000 lbs (AB) per? And they certainly have to be replaced or reconditioned over that time. But they certainly did match well for the performance.

Also recall the term as "coke bottle fuselage" (not soda), meaning cross sectional area remains constant lengthwise.

Thanks for memories.

[GeronL]

haven’t there been many variants? Didn’t Mexico have their own version?

[Jeff Chandler]

The skies around here were once filled with T-38s and Tweets. Williams AFB was right down the road.

[Oztrich Boy]

I'm still wondering about "The T-38 has swept wings"

No more than the DeHavilland Tiger Moth (30 years earlier)

[JRios1968]

That’s what she told me...

[WayneS]

RE:
Buy one here:
http://www.thorntonaircraft.com/body/body.cfm?page_name=mil

If I have to ask how much, I can't afford it, right?

[jaydubya2]

It’s still free to dream...for now.

[finaltable]

I called. They are $1.7 million and they will paint it however you want after you buy it.