Northrop T-38A Talon

Popularly known as the “White Rocket” the T-38 has been the standard graduation pilot trainer the Air Force since 1964 and a space flight readiness trainer for NASA astronauts. It was also flown by the Air Force Demonstration Team, The Thunderbirds, from the late 1970’s until the early 1980’s. Great care was taken to design an aircraft that students could handle. T-38’s are commonly used as chase planes for research and development aircraft. The F-5 fighter is the combat version of the T-38. The F-5 is very popular in Third World air forces because of its simple design and inexpensive price tag. Air Force “Aggressor Squadrons” use F-5’s to simulate enemy aircraft due to their comparability size and performance.

The museum’s T-38A has serial number 60-0593.

According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA/RSA), Maxwell AFB, AL, the museum’s T-38A has the following history:

T-38A, s/n 60-593, was manufactured by Northrop Aircraft, Hawthorn CA and delivered to the USAF on 20 Nov 1961. Its assignments were:

Nov 1961 - To 3560th Pilot Training Wing (ATC), Webb AFB TX

Dec 1970 - To 3250th Flying Training Squadron (ATC), Tyndall AFB FL (deployed to Moody AFB GA)

Aug 1971 - To 3650th Pilot Training Wing (ATC), Columbus AFB MS

Nov 1971 - To Military Aircraft Storage Center AZ

Sep 1973 - To 3750th Maintenance Support Group (ATC), Sheppard AFB TX

Jun 1974 - To Sheppard Technical Training Center (ATC), Sheppard AFB TX (as GT-38A, ground instructional airframe and no longer listed on inventory)

In 1991 it was delivered by truck to March Field Museum from Sheppard AFB. In April 1999, it was restored and painted to represent and honor the Air Force Thunderbirds 1976 bicentennial team with the special tail logo. In a ceremony rare to any museum, the active Thunderbirds of 1999, who were here to fly in the base air show, assisted in dedicating the T-38. Also present and honored were ten former Thunderbird members from the 1075-76 team, including the Crew Chief whose name appears on the canopy. It was a celebration that this museum was proud to host. This aircraft is on loan from the USAF.