AIRCRAFT
T-38A Talon ROKAF
SCALE & KIT
1/48, Wolfpack
MODELER
Jaechang Yang
HISTORY
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twin-engine 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 2013 in air forces throughout the world.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the largest operator of the T-38. In addition to training USAF pilots, the T-38 is used by NASA. The US 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 2012, the T-38 has been in service for over 50 years with its original operator (the USAF). Other current and previous operators of the T-38 include Portugal, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and Germany. All German T-38s are kept in the US and used to train German pilots.
South Korea leased 30 low hour T-38As from the USAF to replace its T-37B and F-5Bs. These aircraft served for over ten years from 1999 until 2009 when they were then returned. Many of these aircraft were refurbished and placed back in USAF service. These planes allowed sufficient T-50s to be built to replace them.
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