U.S. Navy Fact Sheet

T-38 Talon supersonic trainer

Description
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. It is used primarily by the Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) for undergraduate pilot and pilot instructor training. Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, US Naval Test Pilot School, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also use the T-38 in various roles.

Features
The T-38 has swept-back wings, a streamlined fuselage, and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems power the ailerons, flaps, rudder, and other flight control surfaces. The instructor and student sit in tandem on rocket-powered ejection seats in a pressurized, air-conditioned cockpit. Critical components are waist high and can be easily reached by maintenance crews. Refueling and preflight inspections are easily performed. The T-38 needs as little as 2,300 feet (695.2 meters) of runway to take off and can climb from sea level to nearly 30,000 feet (9,068 meters) in one minute.

Student pilots fly the T-38A to learn supersonic techniques, aerobatics, formation, night and instrument flying and cross-country navigation. Test pilots and flight test engineers are trained in T-38A's at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, MD. Advanced training for the bomber-fighter track is accomplished using the T-38 Talon and prepares pilots for transition to fighter and bomber aircraft. The T-38 is a tandem seat twin-engine supersonic jet. There is increased emphasis on formation, navigation, and low-level navigation flying. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration uses T-38A aircraft as trainers for astronauts and as observers and chase planes on programs such as the space shuttle.