Northrop T-38 Talon





Made by Northrop, the T-38 was first fielded by the U.S. Air Force in 1961 as an advanced jet trainer, and it still serves the Air Force in that capacity. It was the preferred aircraft of the Air Force Thunderbirds during the 1970s, when the T-38s starred as the feature performers in air shows around the world.



The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, 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. More than 1,100 were delivered to the Air Force between 1961 and 1972 when production ended. About 562 remain in service throughout the Air Force.

The T-38 is characterized by swept-back wings, a streamlined fuselage and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. The T-38 needs as little as 2,300 feet of runway to take off and can climb from sea level to nearly 30,000 feet in one minute.

Student pilots fly the T-38A 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-38A. Test pilots and flight test engineers are trained in T-38A's at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. NASA uses T-38A aircraft as trainers for astronauts and as observers and chase planes on programs such as the space shuttle.





Primary Function Advanced jet pilot trainer Contractor Northrop Corp. Power Plant Two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines with afterburners Thrust 2,900 pounds (1,315 kilograms) with afterburners Length 46 feet, 4 1/2 inches (14 meters) Height 12 feet, 10 1/2 inches (3.8 meters) Wingspan 25 feet, 3 inches (7.6 meters) Speed 812 mph (Mach 1.08 at sea level) Ceiling Above 55,000 feet (16,667 meters) Maximum Takeoff Weight 12,500 pounds (5,670 kilograms) Range 1,000 miles (870 nautical miles) Armament T-38A: none; AT-38B has provisions for external armament Crew Two, student and instructor Date Deployed March 1961 Unit Cost $756,000 Inventory Active force, 562; ANG, 0; Reserve 0



