Cessna T-37B Tweet
Beginning in 1952, the USAF decided to go to an all-jet training syllabus, and needed jet trainers to replace its current fleet of T-6 Texans and supplement its T-33 Shooting Stars. Cessna offered its Model 318, which was a simple, low-winged trainer with side-by-side seating, which would allow the instructor to more easily correct any student mistakes and point out the features of the aircraft. By making the aircraft low to the ground, it eliminated the need for ladders, and Cessna deliberately designed a robust, easy to maintain aircraft.
The USAF liked what it saw, and ordered it as the XT-37. Some initial problems emerged, such as the placement of the intakes, which the USAF feared would cause the XT-37 to ingest foreign objects; in response, Cessna designed screens that would come down over the intakes when the landing gear was lowered. The XT-37 was also a little fast on approach due to its clean airframe design, and speedbrakes were added. The first T-37A flew in 1955 and went into production, though the T-37A was superseded on the production line by the T-37B, which had uprated engines in response to the USAF’s complaint that the T-37 was underpowered. This version remained in production until 1973, with 1239 eventually produced. It would also serve as the basis for the OA-37B Dragonfly counterinsurgency aircraft.
The T-37, as designed, was a reliable workhorse trainer aircraft, and was liked by instructors and students alike, providing a prospective USAF pilot with their first jet experience before going on to the faster T-38 Talon. It replaced the T-6 quickly and later the T-33. The T-37 was not without problems: pilots reported its tendency to go into unrecoverable spins, which led to a larger tail and nose strakes being introduced, but this only mitigated the problem and never completely cured it. The high pitch of its engines also led to its unofficial (later made official) nickname of “Tweet” (short for Tweety Bird) and less complimentary “Screaming Mimi.”
It had been intended to replace the T-37 beginning in the 1980s, but new designs and planned aircraft could not match the Tweet’s reliability and handling characteristics. As a result, the USAF ended up keeping the T-37 in service much longer than anticipated, and ironically its replacement would be the namesake of the aircraft it had replaced in the 1950s—the T-6A Texan II. The last T-37s were withdrawn from USAF service in 2009. 18 other nations flew or continue to fly Tweets as well.
57-2267 was delivered to the USAF in 1958 and began its career with the 3306th Pilot Training Group at Bainbridge AFB, Georgia. In 1961, it would be assigned to Reese AFB, Texas, where it spent the next 25 years with the 64th Flying Training Wing. 57-2267 concluded its career with the 71st FTW at Vance AFB, Oklahoma in 1989. After a brief period of storage, it was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in 1993.
57-2267 has been kept in superb condition, and wears the white over blue training scheme used by USAF trainers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially among the T-37 community. The "OK" on the tail fillet refers to Vance, as at the time trainers did not usually carry tailcodes. In the background is the T-37's stablemate, the T-38 Talon.
Cessna T-37B Tweet
Beginning in 1952, the USAF decided to go to an all-jet training syllabus, and needed jet trainers to replace its current fleet of T-6 Texans and supplement its T-33 Shooting Stars. Cessna offered its Model 318, which was a simple, low-winged trainer with side-by-side seating, which would allow the instructor to more easily correct any student mistakes and point out the features of the aircraft. By making the aircraft low to the ground, it eliminated the need for ladders, and Cessna deliberately designed a robust, easy to maintain aircraft.
The USAF liked what it saw, and ordered it as the XT-37. Some initial problems emerged, such as the placement of the intakes, which the USAF feared would cause the XT-37 to ingest foreign objects; in response, Cessna designed screens that would come down over the intakes when the landing gear was lowered. The XT-37 was also a little fast on approach due to its clean airframe design, and speedbrakes were added. The first T-37A flew in 1955 and went into production, though the T-37A was superseded on the production line by the T-37B, which had uprated engines in response to the USAF’s complaint that the T-37 was underpowered. This version remained in production until 1973, with 1239 eventually produced. It would also serve as the basis for the OA-37B Dragonfly counterinsurgency aircraft.
The T-37, as designed, was a reliable workhorse trainer aircraft, and was liked by instructors and students alike, providing a prospective USAF pilot with their first jet experience before going on to the faster T-38 Talon. It replaced the T-6 quickly and later the T-33. The T-37 was not without problems: pilots reported its tendency to go into unrecoverable spins, which led to a larger tail and nose strakes being introduced, but this only mitigated the problem and never completely cured it. The high pitch of its engines also led to its unofficial (later made official) nickname of “Tweet” (short for Tweety Bird) and less complimentary “Screaming Mimi.”
It had been intended to replace the T-37 beginning in the 1980s, but new designs and planned aircraft could not match the Tweet’s reliability and handling characteristics. As a result, the USAF ended up keeping the T-37 in service much longer than anticipated, and ironically its replacement would be the namesake of the aircraft it had replaced in the 1950s—the T-6A Texan II. The last T-37s were withdrawn from USAF service in 2009. 18 other nations flew or continue to fly Tweets as well.
57-2267 was delivered to the USAF in 1958 and began its career with the 3306th Pilot Training Group at Bainbridge AFB, Georgia. In 1961, it would be assigned to Reese AFB, Texas, where it spent the next 25 years with the 64th Flying Training Wing. 57-2267 concluded its career with the 71st FTW at Vance AFB, Oklahoma in 1989. After a brief period of storage, it was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in 1993.
57-2267 has been kept in superb condition, and wears the white over blue training scheme used by USAF trainers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially among the T-37 community. The "OK" on the tail fillet refers to Vance, as at the time trainers did not usually carry tailcodes. In the background is the T-37's stablemate, the T-38 Talon.