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 The first T-37A flew in 1955 and went into production, though the T-37A was superseded on the production line by the T-37B, which had uprated engines in response to the USAF’s complaint that the T-37 was underpowered.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 The last T-37s were withdrawn from USAF service in 2009. 18 other nations flew or continue to fly Tweets as well.
60-0100 arrived at Craig AFB, Alabama in 1960 to serve with the 3515th Pilot Training Wing. After Craig closed in 1977, it was transferred to the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, but spent some years flying with the 19th Air Refueling Wing at Robins AFB, Georgia. Though nominally still assigned to the 14th FTW, 60-0100 provided aircrew proficiency flights for the 19th ARW, freeing up the wing's KC-135s. When it was retired in 2007, the Museum of Aviation requested 60-0100 as one of the few T-37s ever to be assigned to Robins.
60-0100 still wears the white over blue scheme carried by T-37s in the last 20 years of their careers, along with the CB tailcode of Columbus. It is displayed beneath the museum's MH-53M Pave Low IV; along with a temporary STEM exhibit, 60-0100 seems almost forgotten in one corner of the Museum of Aviation's Modern Aviation hangar.
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.
60-0100 arrived at Craig AFB, Alabama in 1960 to serve with the 3515th Pilot Training Wing. After Craig closed in 1977, it was transferred to the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, but spent some years flying with the 19th Air Refueling Wing at Robins AFB, Georgia. Though nominally still assigned to the 14th FTW, 60-0100 provided aircrew proficiency flights for the 19th ARW, freeing up the wing's KC-135s. When it was retired in 2007, the Museum of Aviation requested 60-0100 as one of the few T-37s ever to be assigned to Robins.
60-0100 still wears the white over blue scheme carried by T-37s in the last 20 years of their careers, along with the CB tailcode of Columbus. It is displayed beneath the museum's MH-53M Pave Low IV; along with a temporary STEM exhibit, 60-0100 seems almost forgotten in one corner of the Museum of Aviation's Modern Aviation hangar.