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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
 Robert Mustard
 Duxbury, MA
I was a instructed by and a friend of Paul Ring at Willams AFB. I also instructed Dan Tucker in the T-37.
A sad loss of good young officers.
02/08/2016 @ 17:43 [ref: 69476]
 Gil Zimmerman
 Phoenxville, PA
Looking for information about the crash of 68-8149, 22JUL1974. Lost two pilots:
RING, Paul Douglas, 1LT
TUCKER, Daniel Arthur, 2LT
Details would be appreciated. I was childhood friend with Dan Tucker, would like to share with classmates.
06/09/2014 @ 19:24 [ref: 68504]
 John Veer
 Strawberry, AR
I saw a post by David Cox and T-38 00555. I had the pleasure of telling him,Triple Nickle is on static display in my hometown ,Freeport,IL. as a memorial. I was there for the dedication.
02/16/2014 @ 17:26 [ref: 68352]
 David Cox, MSgt [Ret]
 Summit Point, WV
Stationed at Randolph Feb 65 to May 67, 3511 OMS, I was a crew-chief on T-38, 00555 [ol triple nickel], which during 1966, my bird was selected for the official USAF T-38A Talon photos. One photo ended up on post cards, I had one, it became lost, and have never been able to find another or more photos of Triple-Nickel. I love this plane, and has remained in my passionate memory ever since, and long past my retirement in 1987.
09/18/2013 @ 15:21 [ref: 68070]
 Lee Cox
 St Petersburg, FL
73-02, Webb AFB TX. Went on to fly OV-10 and WC-135B. Retired from AF in 1997 at WPAFB OH. Most memorable: Leading a 40-ship as a solo; XC to O'Hare.
08/15/2013 @ 15:10 [ref: 68016]
 Jim Johnson
 Olympia, WA
Flew T-38s during UPT, 68-H at Laughlin AFB, and C-141s and C-130's afterward. All great military hardware, but the T-38 was the most fun, most motivating aircraft. I'm sorry to see the AF asking American airframers to submit on foreign trainers "to save money" on the T-X project, for a new fast jet trainer to replace the aging T-38 fleet. Why would any American student want to get into aeronautical engineering these days? Who wants to train for our 5th and 6th gen fighters on old British or current Russian designs? October 2012.
10/21/2012 @ 19:34 [ref: 67327]
 Gerald McMasters
 Lubbock, TX
The 2 T-38s on trucks have been returned to the US after use by the South Korean Air Force. They are probably on their way to the "boneyard" at Tucson. The serials are correct; just add a 6 in front, ie, one is a 62 and the other is a 63 serial.
08/15/2012 @ 15:04 [ref: 65684]
 Tom Cocks
 , NC
Please add to the (List of Operators) USAF Base

Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas

Now Closed.

Class 70-07

I wish it were possible to do all over again.

Tom Cocks
03/24/2012 @ 05:48 [ref: 54423]
 D. Howerton
 Dyersburg, TN
The Talon was an absolute HOOT! to fly. The pilot can actually see out BOTH sides of the cockpit, and it wasn't nicknamed "The White Rocket" for nothing! Cinch that seatbelt and shoulder harness down good'n tight buckaroo, light the fire, and go Suuuppppeeerrr Sooonnniiiccc! Hurry up and calculate landing speed on downwind...let's see...how many pounds of fuel...hurry, hurry...140's close enough...gear down, flaps set, AOA...runway...ramp...life support shop...debrief...O Club...another beer bartender. I logged about 90 T-38 hours in fixed-wing transition training at Sheppard AFB, TX (3-6/1980). The OAT was 116 degrees on the day of my final checkride. The OAT was 117 when I left Texas the next day. What I want to know is why there are so many Talon accidents by astronauts? Check it out, dude.
11/07/2011 @ 13:17 [ref: 50025]
 Kyle Straub
 Annapolis, MD
I see some who were at Willie. Anyone know Col. Lee Walters (Ret.)? Lee was an UPT IP UPT Williams? He now resides in COS.
08/26/2011 @ 17:12 [ref: 48216]

 

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