Columbus T-38 crashes

Air Force Link ^ | 1/19/2007 | AF news staff

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

1/19/2007 - COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNEWS) -- A Columbus AFB T-38 Talon crashed about 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18 approximately 40 miles south of Memphis, Tenn.

There were two pilots on board and both ejected safely.

Both pilots were examined by medical authorities, released and returned to Columbus AFB.

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was conducting a low-level navigation training sortie.

The cause for the mishap is under investigation by an Air Force safety team.

Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Four T-38 Talons fly in formation. T-38s are twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainers used by the 50th Fighter Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. Primarily Air Education and Training Command officials use the aircraft for undergraduate pilot and pilot instructor training. Student pilots fly the T-38 to learn supersonic techniques, aerobatics, formation, night and instrument flying and cross-country navigation. More than 60,000 pilots have earned their wings in the T-38. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Matthew C. Simpson)

[Jeff Chandler]

Trainer version of the F-5. There used to be a bunch of them and T-37s at Williams AFB down the street from us.

[MediaMole]

IIRC, the F-5 is actually the fighter version of the T-38.

[rbookward]

IIRC, the F-5 is actually the fighter version of the T-38.

Chicken/egg.

A beautiful piece of work nonetheless. Wish I had one, and could fly it. I understand a few are in civilian hands.

[JRios1968]

To-may-to

To-mah-to

[CenturionM]

Try here - shouldn't be TOO expensive:

http://www.controller.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=1029495&guid=FDDEAE78D8CC43B28927AF05BE77C5C2

[Grut]

IIRC, the F-5 is actually the fighter version of the T-38.

Not only that, but an RCAF aviator once told me that Canada sold the USAF on the 5BX aerobics program as payback for convincing Canada to buy the F-5.

[rbookward]

> Try here - shouldn't be TOO expensive:

Thanks! I'll run right out and pick that one up!

I do remember a story in Flying or some other rag about a rich guy buying one and buzzing around in it. Back then it cost 10 grand to fill it up for a 10 minute super-sonic dash.

I was young and all dreamy about flying, and that didn't sound like such a bad deal. Sigh. Those were the days...

[pterional]

I think Williams AFB was the best training base. I went to UPT there and was in class 89-01. Some of the T-37 on the flight line had over 15,000 flight hours which resulted in many mid air mechanical problems. The T-38 is getting up there in age as well. The T-38 is a very unforgivable plane to fly and land.

[Jeff Chandler]

I worked for Tecom in 82-83 driving for the motor pool. I used to love watching the touch-and-goes from Ellsworth Rd.

Now, what did they name the RSUs? One was Rumdum.

[Jasper]

"I worked for Tecom in 82-83 driving for the motor pool. I used to love watching the touch-and-goes from Ellsworth Rd.

I was stationed there (USAF Hospital Williams) in the late 70's early 80's.

Did you - by chance - happen to know a Mr. Riley? He was the WG civilian ambulance driver at the hospital. Also, he attended to the ambulances and often took them to the motor pool for service.

/jasper

[Jeff Chandler]

I can't say I remember him. It was a long time ago.

I do remember the wonderful 4th of July Celebrations there, though.