The Northrop T-38 Talon is the focus of “The Versatile T-38,” a 1960s promotional film on the supersonic aircraft. The two-person aircraft is shown in the air and on the runway as the narrator offers a detailed description of its turbo jet engines and its thrust-to-weight ratio. Again shown in flight at mark 01:55, we’re told how the aircraft is considered one of the safest used by the Air Force and we learn more of the aircraft’s attributes as well as some of the records the aircraft set in 1962. Often used as trainers for pilots as well as test support aircraft. Furthermore, the T-38 is used at the USAF Aero Space Research Pilot School (mark 04:15) at Edwards Air Force Base as space flight readiness trainers for the astronaut program. The aircraft’s high utilization rate, we’re told near mark 05:00, is the result of three characteristics: system reliability, component accessibility, and simplicity. Crews inspect the aircraft as the narrator highlights more of the aircraft’s key attributes as the film continues, all of which leads to less maintenance time and more flight hours.

The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twin-engined supersonic jet trainer. It was the world’s first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2017 in several air forces.

The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the most T-38s. In addition to training USAF pilots, the T-38 is used by NASA. The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School is the principal US Navy operator (other T-38s were previously used as USN aggressor aircraft until replaced by the similar Northrop F-5 Tiger II). Pilots of other NATO nations fly the T-38 in joint training programs with USAF pilots.

As of 2015, the T-38 has been in service for over 50 years with its original operator, the United States Air Force.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com