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 The first T-37A flew in 1955 and went into production, though the T-37A was superseded on the production line by the T-37B, which had uprated engines in response to the USAF’s complaint that the T-37 was underpowered.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 The last T-37s were withdrawn from USAF service in 2009. 18 other nations flew or continue to fly Tweets as well.
Built as T-37B 66-7966, this Tweet began its career with the 3630th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1967. In 1972, it was transferred to the NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (NJJPTP) at Webb AFB, where it trained NATO pilots--the program allowed NATO pilots plenty of room to train in Texas' uncongested skies. Most of the pilots who flew 66-7966 were German. In 1988, it was sent back to Sheppard as part of the 80th FTW, and was retired in 2003. It was donated to the Luftwaffe's training command headquarters at Fort Bliss and was placed on display there. 66-7966 was only there two years before the Luftwaffe transferred its remaining training units to Holloman AFB in New Mexico. Worried that the T-37 would end up being scrapped, several high-ranking Luftwaffe officers intervened, and got 66-7966 donated to the nearby War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Today, 66-7966 is kept in superb shape, still wearing the glossy white over blue scheme that T-37s wore in their last years of service. The aircraft carries the 80th FTW's tail stripe on the tail, above the NATO emblem. One of the Luftwaffe officers that helped save the aircraft has his name on the nose. One of the best preserved Tweets out there, I saw 66-7966 in June 2022.
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.
Built as T-37B 66-7966, this Tweet began its career with the 3630th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1967. In 1972, it was transferred to the NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (NJJPTP) at Webb AFB, where it trained NATO pilots--the program allowed NATO pilots plenty of room to train in Texas' uncongested skies. Most of the pilots who flew 66-7966 were German. In 1988, it was sent back to Sheppard as part of the 80th FTW, and was retired in 2003. It was donated to the Luftwaffe's training command headquarters at Fort Bliss and was placed on display there. 66-7966 was only there two years before the Luftwaffe transferred its remaining training units to Holloman AFB in New Mexico. Worried that the T-37 would end up being scrapped, several high-ranking Luftwaffe officers intervened, and got 66-7966 donated to the nearby War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Today, 66-7966 is kept in superb shape, still wearing the glossy white over blue scheme that T-37s wore in their last years of service. The aircraft carries the 80th FTW's tail stripe on the tail, above the NATO emblem. One of the Luftwaffe officers that helped save the aircraft has his name on the nose. One of the best preserved Tweets out there, I saw 66-7966 in June 2022.