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Northrop T-38 Talon

Northrop · Advanced Jet Trainer / Advanced Jet Training · USA · Early Jet (1946–1969)

Northrop T-38 Talon — Advanced Jet Trainer / Advanced Jet Training
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The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, two-seat supersonic trainer first flown on 10 April 1959 and still in active U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and NASA service in 2026 — a 67-year service life that ranks among the longest of any in-production-configuration jet aircraft. 1,146 T-38s were built between 1961 and 1972. The Talon is the supersonic chase-plane workhorse for almost every U.S. flight-test programme since the early 1960s; NASA still operates 14 T-38s out of Ellington Field, Houston, used by astronauts for proficiency flying and flight-test programmes.

The T-38 was the first dedicated supersonic trainer ever built. Northrop designed it around two General Electric J85 afterburning turbojets (2,950 lbf with afterburner, each), a small thin trapezoidal wing similar to the F-104, and a tandem two-seat cockpit. Empty weight is only 7,164 lb (3,250 kg), making the Talon extraordinarily light for a supersonic aircraft — about a third the weight of contemporary fighters. The combination of light weight, twin engines, and clean trapezoidal-wing aerodynamics gives the T-38 a thrust-to-weight ratio approaching 1:1 in clean configuration and a maximum speed of Mach 1.3.

Operationally the Talon serves three roles. As the USAF Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) supersonic jet trainer it has trained essentially every U.S. fighter pilot since the early 1960s, including the F-117, F-22, F-35, B-1B, and B-2 generations. As the NASA chase-plane fleet it accompanies almost every X-plane and SR-71 / U-2 flight from Edwards AFB. As the astronaut proficiency-trainer it is required hours-on-stick equipment for every NASA astronaut going to ISS or the Moon. The T-38C variant — the current production-equivalent standard — has glass-cockpit avionics, HUD, and upgraded engines.

The T-38 fleet's primary replacement is the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, which entered initial USAF training service in 2025. NASA's T-38 fleet is not being replaced; NASA plans to operate the Talon at least through 2035 because no commercial supersonic trainer matches its specific chase-plane and astronaut-training niche. Many T-38s are preserved at U.S. air-force bases, the National Museum of the USAF, and the Smithsonian.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The T-38 Talon is the U.S. Air Force's main supersonic trainer jet. It first flew in 1959 and entered service in 1961 — making it one of the longest-serving combat-trainer aircraft ever. The T-38 has been used to train every Air Force fighter pilot for over 60 years.

The T-38 is small — about 46 feet long, longer than a school bus. Two General Electric J85 turbojet engines give it Mach 1.3 (about 870 mph). Two seats — student in back, instructor in front. The clean white paint scheme makes the T-38 instantly recognizable on airbase ramps.

About 1,200 T-38s were built between 1959 and 1972. The Air Force has about 450 still in service as of 2026. They serve at training bases across America: Laughlin in Texas, Vance in Oklahoma, Columbus in Mississippi, Sheppard in Texas. NASA also operates 18 T-38s — astronauts use them for proficiency flying.

The T-38 is being replaced by the newer Boeing T-7A Red Hawk. The first T-7As are expected to enter service in 2028. Until then, T-38s keep flying. Some T-38s have flown over 20,000 hours — extraordinary for a 1960s-designed jet. The T-38 will probably retire around 2030, ending a 70-year career.

Fun Facts

  • The T-38 Talon first flew in 1959 and has been training Air Force fighter pilots for over 60 years.
  • About 1,200 T-38s were built between 1959 and 1972.
  • Top speed Mach 1.3 — supersonic, so students learn high-speed flight before moving to F-15s and F-22s.
  • The U.S. Air Force has about 450 T-38s still in service as of 2026.
  • NASA also operates 18 T-38s — astronauts use them for proficiency flying between space missions.
  • Some T-38s have flown over 20,000 hours — extraordinary for a 1960s jet.
  • The newer Boeing T-7A Red Hawk will replace the T-38 starting around 2028.

Kids’ Questions

Why do astronauts fly T-38s?

NASA uses T-38s as "proficiency flying" airplanes — astronauts fly them regularly to stay sharp on flying skills between space missions. Most NASA astronauts are pilots who already love flying. They have to stay current on aircraft, just like a regular pilot does. Plus NASA wants astronauts to be comfortable making fast decisions, communicating with controllers, and reading complex instruments — exactly what a T-38 demands. Many astronauts log 100+ hours per year in T-38s. The T-38 is part of the astronaut lifestyle that goes back to the Apollo era.

What replaces the T-38?

The Boeing T-7A Red Hawk is the T-38's replacement. Boeing won the U.S. Air Force T-X competition in 2018 to build a new trainer. The T-7A first flew in 2023 and is in flight-testing. The Air Force expects the first operational T-7As in 2028 — about 5 years late from original plans. About 350 T-7As are planned, replacing the T-38 over 10+ years. The T-7A has modern computer screens ("glass cockpit"), more thrust than the T-38, and modern systems that better prepare students for 5th-generation fighters like the F-35.

Variants

T-38A
Original production trainer variant. 1,146 built between 1961 and 1972. Two J85-GE-5 afterburning turbojets. The bulk of the USAF and NASA fleet.
AT-38B
Armed variant with M39 cannon and bomb-rack pylons. Used by USAF Lead-In Fighter Training. About 200 conversions.
T-38C
Modernised current-standard variant with glass cockpit, HUD, GPS-INS navigation. Most surviving USAF and NASA T-38s have been upgraded to this standard.
F-5 family (related)
The T-38's combat-capable derivative. Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II share most of the T-38 airframe. Roughly 2,600 F-5s built.

Notable Operators

United States Air Force
Operates ~500 T-38C/AT-38B Talons in the SUPT supersonic jet trainer role at Columbus, Sheppard, Vance, and Laughlin Air Force Bases. Replacement by the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk is underway from 2025.
NASA
Operates 14 T-38N (N-suffix denotes NASA-modified) Talons from Ellington Field, Houston. Used as astronaut proficiency trainers and X-plane chase aircraft. NASA plans to operate the fleet through at least 2035.
Foreign export operators
T-38s have been operated by the German Luftwaffe (German Air Force training mission at Holloman AFB), Republic of Korea Air Force, Republic of China Air Force, and Turkey. Combined export fleet roughly 200 airframes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the T-38 still in service?

Yes — as of 2026, the U.S. Air Force operates ~500 T-38Cs in supersonic jet training, and NASA operates 14 T-38Ns from Ellington Field for astronaut proficiency and X-plane chase missions. USAF replacement by the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk is underway; NASA has no announced replacement plan.

How fast does the T-38 Talon fly?

Maximum Mach 1.3 (about 858 mph / 1,381 km/h) at altitude. Supercruise (sustained supersonic without afterburner) is not possible; sustained supersonic flight requires afterburner.

Why does NASA fly T-38s?

Two reasons. (1) Astronaut proficiency: every NASA astronaut going to ISS or the Moon must log regular flight hours, and the T-38 is the supersonic-handling trainer for that purpose. (2) X-plane chase: NASA Armstrong test programmes need supersonic chase aircraft to fly alongside test articles — the T-38's speed envelope and instrument package make it the standard chase plane.

How is the T-38 different from the F-5?

The F-5 Freedom Fighter / Tiger II shares most of the T-38 airframe but adds combat avionics, a radar, weapon hardpoints, and a different forward fuselage. The T-38 is the unarmed two-seat trainer; the F-5 is the single-seat combat aircraft. About 2,600 F-5s and 1,146 T-38s were built.

Who built the T-38 Talon?

Northrop Corporation (later Northrop Grumman) at the Hawthorne, California plant. The T-38 was Northrop's response to a 1956 USAF specification for a dedicated supersonic trainer; Northrop won the competition over Lockheed and Republic.

Sources

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