See Also
This Incredible Plane: T-38 TalonThe Best Images of the T-38 Talon Aircraft“You Have Left Them Behind”: Jackie Cochran and the T-38 Talon1961 Northrop T-38 Talon | CT Air&Space Center
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
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Air Force Flight Test Center Museum | Edwards AFB | California |
| Blackbird Airpark | Palmdale | California |
| Columbus AFB | Columbus AFB | Mississippi |
| Edward F. Beale Museum | Beale AFB | California |
| Kelly Field Heritage Museum | Kelly AFB | Texas |
| Laughlin AFB | Laughlin AFB | Texas |
| Maxwell AFB Air Park | Maxwell AFB | Alabama |
| Tucson | Arizona | |
| Prairie Aviation Museum | Bloomington | Illinois |
| Randolph AFB | Randolph AFB | Texas |
| Reese AFB | Reese AFB | Texas |
| Sheppard AFB Air Park | Sheppard AFB | Texas |
| USAF Academy | USAF Academy | Colorado |
| USAF History and Traditions Museum | San Antonio | Texas |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
| Vance AFB | Vance AFB | Oklahoma |
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 co*cks , 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 co*cks 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 co*ckpit, 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] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
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