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U.S. Air Force And Northrop Honor 50 Year History
Of The T-38 Talon Jet By Eddy Metcalf |
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April 19, 2011 - Northrop Grumman Corporation joined representatives of the U.S. Air Force in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first delivery of the T-38 Talon trainer aircraft.
At an event held at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas,
the Northrop Grumman-built aircraft was lauded for its
longevity, performance and reliability as the primary
training aircraft for generations of Air Force pilots. Northrop Grumman produced 1,187 T-38s between 1959 and 1972, the year the production program ended. Approximately half of those aircraft remain in service today with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, NASA and air forces around the world. Since 1961, more than 70,000 Air Force pilots have earned their wings in the T-38. |
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The average T-38 has flown 15,000 hours, and the high-time aircraft has flown 19,000 hours. Northrop Grumman has continued to maintain the aircraft, producing replacement wings and new structural components to extend the service life of the platform. "The word 'icon' should not be used lightly, but that word simply and accurately describes the Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general manager of the Strike and Surveillance Systems Division of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.
"It's an honor to stand with the U.S. Air Force as the company
that designed, built and continues to service the T-38. This
aircraft's unparalleled history and ongoing importance speak
volumes about its quality, and the fact that so many of the
world's finest pilots trained on the T-38 is a legacy to be
proud of."
The basic airframe was used for the light combat aircraft F-5
Freedom Fighter family. In the 1950s Northrop began studying
lightweight and more affordable fighter designs. The company
began with its single-engine N-102 "Fang" concept. The N-102 was
facing weight and cost growth, so the project was canceled and
the company N-156 project was begun. |