Posted on 07/10/2010 11:06:35 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The T-38 Talon is receiving an upgrade that officials said will improve aircrews’ safety and comfort.
Representatives from Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Inc. are in the early stages of installing their new escape systems in all T-38Cs at Randolph AFB after completing the same project at Laughlin AFB, Texas, the first of five Air Education and Training Command installations scheduled for the upgrade.
One of the greatest advantages of the new seat, called the Mk US16T, is that it functions well in the situation that accounts for most ejections, said Rick French, an AETC T-38 program manager. “The old ejection seat has the least capability in the flight regime where the most ejections occurred, the low-altitude, low-airspeed range, because it takes a few seconds for the parachute to open when you leave the aircraft,” Mr. French said.
Meet your Maker in a Martin-Baker
I thought the T-38 has been retired, guess I was incorrect on that one.
They still fly about 400 ships.
The Air Force,NATO and NASA still uses the plane in training.
The T-37 was retired (thank goodness!) but the T-38 soldiers on.
The T-37 might be retired by there have been some reports that the A-37 might make a comeback as a COIN aircraft. Back to the Future, I guess?
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That 10,000 lb. dog-whistle shows up... ROFL...
The Taliban will surrender to the noise --
...And fear Hell will include a T-37 taxiiing in close proximity -- as a daily [torture] occurrence.
The zero-zero technology is at least 50 years old. When it comes to protecting pilots, who would have thought the AF would have dragged its feet this long.
They would do better to bring back the Sandy but either one would be too vulnerable for todays wars. An uprated A-10 would be much better but the Air Force has zero interest in building another ground support tank buster.
It looks like a sporterized version of a trainer ala the AT-37. I bet it can’t carry half the load a Sandy could.
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