Overview
The T-38 Talon was the first supersonic trainer to enter service. Small, sleek and fast, it has trained generations of US Air Force pilots since 1961, and NASA astronauts have used it for decades to stay sharp as pilots.
It shares its design roots with the F-5 fighter. More than 60 years after its first flight, about 500 are still flying, but they are now being replaced by the new Boeing T-7A Red Hawk.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 14.14 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 7.70 m |
| Height | 3.92 m |
| Wing area | 15.8 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 3,270 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 5,485 kg |
Performance
| Max. speed | 1,381 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max. Mach | Mach 1.30 |
| Range | 1,835 km |
| Service ceiling | 15,240 m |
| Rate of climb | 170.0 m/s |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 2 |
|---|
Powerplant
| Engines | 2 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | General Electric J85-GE-5 |
| Thrust (each) | 11.8 kN |
| Thrust with afterburner (each) | 17.1 kN |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Photos
Photo 1: U.S. Department of Defense / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
