The Northrop Corporation created the T-38in the mid 1950's a supersonic trainer variant of their N-156 fighter project which evolved into the famous F-5 Freedom Fighter, consequently the T-38 looks like and has similar performance to this "economy fighter". When production ended in 1972 a total of 1,187 trainers had been produced and many are still in service, the USAF has announced it's intention to continue operating the T-38 until 2020 and is upgrading the avionics and airframes on it's remaining aircraft with this goal in mind. Although the main user of the T-38 remains the UAAF the Talon has been purchased by the USN, the German Luftwaffe, the Portuguese Air Force, the Republic of China Air Force, the Turkish Air Force, Republic of Korea Air force and NASA. Northrop T-38A Specifications: - Crew: Instructor and student
- Length: 46 ft 4.5 in (14.14 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 3 in (7.7 m)
- Height: 12 ft 10.5 in (3.92 m)
- Empty weight: 7,200 lb (3,270 kg)
- Loaded weight: 11,820 lb (5,360 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
- Engine: Twin 3,850 lbf (17.1 kN) General Electric J85-5A afterburning turbojets
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.3 (858 mph, 1,381 km/h)
- Range: 1,140 mi (1,835 km)
- Service ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Rate of climb: 33,600 ft/min (170.7 m/s)
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