T-38 Talon Trainer

By Northrop Grumman



A private venture to design an aircraft that could be produced as a tactical fighter or a supersonic trainer was undertaken by Northrop in 1954. The program paid off in that the N-156F became the F-5 Freedom Fighter family of aircraft and the N-156T became the T-38 Talon trainer. The T-38Talon, the first twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic trainer, replaced the Lockheed T-33A. The first T-38s were delivered to the Air Training Command at Randolph AFB in Texas in January 1961.

West Germany bought forty six T-38s to use as trainer. Interestingly enough, these aircraft were operated in the USA to train the West German pilots, but all were flown with American markings. The USAF Thunderbirds used the T-38As from 1974 to 1982 because of its economical operation and high performance capabilities.

The latest, upgraded version of the Talon, the T-38C Talon II, entered service in 2003, retrofitted with new, electronic instrumentation. The nicknames for this aircraft are the White rocket, and Blue Jet/Smurf.

---