High Gallery
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Military Aircraft
T-38 TALON Photo By R. Thouanel |
| In 1954, Northrop embarked on a financially risky program for a private venture design of a aircraft that be produced as a tactical fighter or a supersonic trainer. In the event the program paid off, for the N-156F became the F-5 Freedom Fighter and the N-156T became the T-38 Talon trainer. In fact the T-38 resembles the F-5B except it has a honeycomb wing structure and lower power engines. In 1956 the US Air force became interested in the trainer version, ant the first YT-38 flew in April 1959 with non reheated J85-GE-5s. The T-38 Talon enter service in March 1961 as replacement for the Lockheed T-33A. Production for the USAF totaled 1,139 aircraft excluding three prototypes and four pre production aircraft. Another 46 T-38As were bought by West Germany, and these are operated in the USA wearing American markings for the training of West German pilots. Some USAF aircraft were later transferred to Portugal and Turkey, and the USAFs current T-38A strength is more than 870. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Northrop | Length: 46 ft. 4.5 in. |
| First Flight: April 1959 | Height: 12 ft. 10.5 in. |
| Model: A | Wing Span: 25 ft. 3 in. |
| Crew: Two | Wing Area: 170.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Talon | Empty Weight: 7,174 lb. |
| Basic Role: Basic trainer. | Max. Weight: 11,820 lb. |
| Other Versions: T-38A Talon sole production model. | Armament: None |
| Principal User: West Germany, Portugal, Turkey, and USA |
Propulsion |
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Performance |
Power Plant: General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet. |
| Range: 1,093 miles. | Horsepower: 3,850-lb reheated thrust. |
| Max. Speed: 858 mph. or Mach 1.3 at 36,000 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Ceiling: 53,600 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 33,600 ft. per minute. |