What's going to happen to the T-38?

[davparlr]

So in keeping with the thread, one of the first things they did at Sheppard to introduce a young airman to life as an aircraft mechanic, was to have you work on T-38's. What a great looking aircraft.

Lamenting the demise of -141's, I was a flying Crew Chief on one for 10 years, my experiences mirror that of yours, see above. I went to a lot of other places as well such as most of Central and South America. My -141 years were some of the best of my life.

You must have been flying out of Charleston. I was based at McGuire.

 

[davparlr]

So in keeping with the thread, one of the first things they did at Sheppard to introduce a young airman to life as an aircraft mechanic, was to have you work on T-38's. What a great looking aircraft.

Lamenting the demise of -141's, I was a flying Crew Chief on one for 10 years, my experiences mirror that of yours, see above. I went to a lot of other places as well such as most of Central and South America. My -141 years were some of the best of my life.

delete

 

[soulezoo]

You must have been flying out of Charleston. I was based at McGuire.

Travis....

 

[soulezoo]

Loadmasters and Cg calculations are critical for safe operations of an aircraft, especially cargo type, and are as valued crewmembers as any other aboard. I seen crash reviews where Cgs were off and as soon as the aircraft rotated, they were dead.

One other location I forgot to mention, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as co-pilot. Interesting and tricky approach.

As a mechanic, I obviously wasn't piloting so have a different perspective, but the three "interesting" approaches I recall were LaPaz Bolivia, Gibraltar, and McMurdo Antarctica. In a KC-10, taking off from Al Dhafra with 325k in fuel in 120* heat, 80% humidity got interesting as well.

 

[davparlr]

Those jet engines would be much happier at McMurdo than at Al Dhafra! Were you participating in operation "Deep Freeze"?

 

[davparlr]

I guess they could keep a few T-38s around to allow base ops people keep up their flying hours and flight pay. Sure beats those old T-33s they used to use.

 

[GrauGeist]

Just had a T-38 from Beale AFB do a few touch-n-goes here this afternoon at Redding airport (RDD).

 

[soulezoo]

Those jet engines would be much happier at McMurdo than at Al Dhafra! Were you participating in operation "Deep Freeze"?

yes, just a stop and go though. Enjoyed Christchurch very much!

 

[soulezoo]

Just had a T-38 from Beale AFB do a few touch-n-goes here this afternoon at Redding airport (RDD).

I see T-38's doing touch and goes at Mather every once in awhile still today. What's interesting to me is they are painted black, giving a F-5 impression. I am used to the white scheme I saw at Sheppard.

 

[GrauGeist]

I see T-38's doing touch and goes at Mather every once in awhile still today. What's interesting to me is they are painted black, giving a F-5 impression. I am used to the white scheme I saw at Sheppard.

I'm familiar with them being white, too, but with NASA insignias.

Back in the late 80's, I was a fleet manager for a rental car company and when the Astronauts would fly in from JSC, they'd land at Los Alamitos AAF and drive up to JPL Pasadena.
So instead of sending one of the drivers out to drop off (and later pick the car up), I'd do it myself.
I always made to get there a bit early, so I could hang out in Base Ops and catch them landing, then went down to meet them and give them the keys.

I had a great collection of autographed astronaut photos and memorabilia (like patches and a shuttle lapel pin) at one time, too.

BTW, they were sometimes accompanied by a C-5A, which was an awesome sight to see land/take-off from that short runway, too.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I see T-38s out at Edwards all the time.

 

[GermParkyn]

I see T-38's doing touch and goes at Mather every once in awhile still today. What's interesting to me is they are painted black, giving a F-5 impression. I am used to the white scheme I saw at Sheppard.

What tail letters? Holloman used to have black T-38's flying chase on F-117's

 

[SaparotRob]

What tail letters? Holloman used to have black T-38's flying chase on F-117's

Cool!

 

[GrauGeist]

Currently, we get either the AF's black T-38s from Beale or the USN's dark blue T-38s from (I beleive) Moffett, doing occasional touch-n-goes here in Redding.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Currently, we get either the AF's black T-38s from Beale or the USN's dark blue T-38s from (I beleive) Moffett, doing occasional touch-n-goes here in Redding.

I don't think the Navy has anything at Moffett. I think those USN T-38s are out of Fallon and they might be F-5Bs

 

[GrauGeist]

I don't think the Navy has anything at Moffett. I think those USN T-38s are out of Fallon and they might be F-5Bs

Could have been an F-5B (hard to tell the difference as they're hauling ass overhead).


BTW, we've been getting some of these doing practice at RDD, lately, too.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Just had a T-38 from Beale AFB do a few touch-n-goes here this afternoon at Redding airport (RDD).

We regularly had them as transients at Carswell as trainees, or pilots meeting their monthly hours quota, would fly in to catch a Cowboys or Rangers game. I've always thought they are beautiful airplanes.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

BTW, they were sometimes accompanied by a C-5A, which was an awesome sight to see land/take-off from that short runway, too.

They always had me worried when watching their final approach, they looked so slow I'd think they were going to stall out.

I joked with a fellow firefighter one time, "They don't fly in to land. They turn onto final and then the gravity of the airplane pulls the runway into it."

 

[nam72]

For the real white knuckes,try the approach to Adak,Alaska.You won't forget it…

 

[davparlr]

They always had me worried when watching their final approach, they looked so slow I'd think they wee going to stall out.

I joked with a fellow firefighter one time, "They don't fly in to land. They turn onto final and then the gravity of the airplane pulls the runway into it."

They might look slow but they're scorching, flying at 180 mph plus on final.