Northrop T-38A Talon
While the USAF had no interest in Northrop’s N-156F low-cost fighter program (which eventually became first the F-5A Freedom Fighter and then the F-5E Tiger II), it saw potential in the two-seat N-156T. The T-33 Shooting Star and T-37 trainers then in service offered only subsonic performance, while USAF fighters in the late 1950s were nearly all capable of supersonic speed. Students graduating from subsonic T-33s would be going immediately into supersonic “Century Series” fighters. With this in mind, the USAF ordered the N-156T as the T-38A Talon in March 1959, with the aircraft entering service in 1961. Fifty years later, the Talon is still the USAF’s primary trainer, with no change in external appearance.
As a trainer, the T-38 has performance equal to that of a fighter, and is quite nimble and fast. For this reason, it has also been used as an aggressor aircraft on occasion by the USAF and US Navy, as a chase aircraft and astronaut trainer by NASA, and even as “emergency fighters” by the Portuguese Air Force. Despite being something of a “hot rod,” the T-38 is still quite forgiving in its role as a trainer, and over 55,000 pilots have won their wings while flying it. During the early 1980s, the USAF converted a small number of T-38s to AT-38B standard, adding a centerline hardpoint for weapons training. In 2003, the USAF upgraded its remaining T-38As and AT-38Bs to T-38C standard, bringing the design into the 21st Century, with upgraded avionics, HUD, INS, GPS, and modification to its engines for better thrust at low altitudes. Besides the USAF, six other air forces have also used Talons, and many more have trained with USAF aircraft.
N963NA came to NASA via the USAF, where it was delivered as 59-1603, and the US Navy, where it was BuNo 591603. This journey began when 59-1603 joined the USAF around 1960, though it is unknown which units it may have served with. In 1972, it was transferred to the Navy and stationed at NAS China Lake, California, where now 591603 was converted to a QT-38A drone; interestingly, it was painted in aggressor-style camouflage--drones are usually made more high visibility, not less. 591603 was never expended, converted back to a standard T-38A, and transferred to NASA in 1990, where it became N963NA. It was based at Ellington Field, Texas, where it served as a crew trainer and transport for NASA personnel, mainly Space Shuttle crew. In 2007, N963NA was retired and donated to the Western Museum of Flight.
Today, N963NA is nicely displayed on a compass rose near Zamperini Field's administration building, though it is part of the WMOF's collection.
Northrop T-38A Talon
While the USAF had no interest in Northrop’s N-156F low-cost fighter program (which eventually became first the F-5A Freedom Fighter and then the F-5E Tiger II), it saw potential in the two-seat N-156T. The T-33 Shooting Star and T-37 trainers then in service offered only subsonic performance, while USAF fighters in the late 1950s were nearly all capable of supersonic speed. Students graduating from subsonic T-33s would be going immediately into supersonic “Century Series” fighters. With this in mind, the USAF ordered the N-156T as the T-38A Talon in March 1959, with the aircraft entering service in 1961. Fifty years later, the Talon is still the USAF’s primary trainer, with no change in external appearance.
As a trainer, the T-38 has performance equal to that of a fighter, and is quite nimble and fast. For this reason, it has also been used as an aggressor aircraft on occasion by the USAF and US Navy, as a chase aircraft and astronaut trainer by NASA, and even as “emergency fighters” by the Portuguese Air Force. Despite being something of a “hot rod,” the T-38 is still quite forgiving in its role as a trainer, and over 55,000 pilots have won their wings while flying it. During the early 1980s, the USAF converted a small number of T-38s to AT-38B standard, adding a centerline hardpoint for weapons training. In 2003, the USAF upgraded its remaining T-38As and AT-38Bs to T-38C standard, bringing the design into the 21st Century, with upgraded avionics, HUD, INS, GPS, and modification to its engines for better thrust at low altitudes. Besides the USAF, six other air forces have also used Talons, and many more have trained with USAF aircraft.
N963NA came to NASA via the USAF, where it was delivered as 59-1603, and the US Navy, where it was BuNo 591603. This journey began when 59-1603 joined the USAF around 1960, though it is unknown which units it may have served with. In 1972, it was transferred to the Navy and stationed at NAS China Lake, California, where now 591603 was converted to a QT-38A drone; interestingly, it was painted in aggressor-style camouflage--drones are usually made more high visibility, not less. 591603 was never expended, converted back to a standard T-38A, and transferred to NASA in 1990, where it became N963NA. It was based at Ellington Field, Texas, where it served as a crew trainer and transport for NASA personnel, mainly Space Shuttle crew. In 2007, N963NA was retired and donated to the Western Museum of Flight.
Today, N963NA is nicely displayed on a compass rose near Zamperini Field's administration building, though it is part of the WMOF's collection.