Northrop AT-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon was the world's first supersonic jet trainer, designed to teach military pilots the handling characteristics of a fast jet before they moved on to frontline supersonic fighters. Its slim, streamlined design and small wing give it a distinctly sleek silhouette compared with bulkier trainers of the era. NASA has also used the T-38 for decades to keep astronauts current on high-performance jet flying between spaceflight missions. Despite entering service in the early 1960s, updated versions remain in active US Air Force training use today.
Did you know?
AT-38s add practice bomb and gun-pod stations, letting student pilots begin weapons training before reaching a fighter squadron.
Specifications
| Length | 14.1 m (46 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 7.7 m (25 ft) |
| Height | 3.9 m (13 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 5.3 t |
| Range | 1,000 NM (1,852 km) |
| Maximum speed | 812 kt (1,504 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 55,000 ft (16,764 m) |
| Rate of climb | 8,000 ft/min (40.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Engines | 2x General Electric J85 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
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