Northrop T-38 Talon Supersonic Trainer Family
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet-trainer family developed for the United States Air Force and adopted as a foundational advanced trainer for fighter and bomber crews. Its compact, high-performance design also supported lead-in fighter training, test work, and later avionics-modernized T-38C service, giving the family an unusually durable role in postwar pilot formation.
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Identity
- Aliases
- T-38 TalonNorthrop T-38T-38AT-38C
- Family Name
- Northrop T-38 Talon
- Full Name
- Northrop T-38 Talon Supersonic Trainer Family
- Roles
- trainermilitary
- Status
- active
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet-trainer family developed for the United States Air Force and adopted as a foundational advanced trainer for fighter and bomber crews. Its compact, high-performance design also supported lead-in fighter training, test work, and later avionics-modernized T-38C service, giving the family an unusually durable role in postwar pilot formation.
- First Flight Year
- 1,959
- Manufacturer
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- The U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon fact sheet identifies two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines with afterburners and lists 2,050 lbf dry thrust, 2,900 lbf afterburning thrust, and 3,300 lbf with the power-management package. Placement is left unspecified because the cited fact sheet does not state it.
- Name
- T-38 Talon J85-GE-5 installation
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- The U.S. Air Force museum AT-38B fact sheet identifies two General Electric J85-GE-5A turbojets at 3,850 lb thrust each with afterburner. Placement is left unspecified because the cited technical notes do not state it.
- Name
- AT-38B Talon J85-GE-5A installation
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 20:56:30 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 18:01:57 UTC