Manufacturer: Northrop Corp.
Service: United States Air Force
Propulsion: Two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines with afterburners – 2,050 pounds dry thrust; 2,900 with afterburners
Airspeed: 812 mph (Mach 1.08 at sea level)
Range: 1,093 miles
Crew: Two, student and instructor
Armament: T-38A/C: none; AT-38B: provisions for practice bomb dispenser
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, 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.
The T-38 has swept wings, a streamlined fuselage and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems power the ailerons, rudder and other flight control surfaces. Critical aircraft components are waist high and can be easily reached by maintenance crews.
The T-38C incorporates a “glass cockpit” with integrated avionics displays, head-up display and an electronic “no drop bomb” scoring system. The AT-38B has a gun sight and practice bomb dispenser.
Air Education and Training Command uses the T-38C to prepare pilots for front-line fighter and bomber aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Thunderbolt and F-22 Raptor.