From The Archives: 65 Years Ago In Aviation Week

A prototype of the T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer made its first flight on April 10, 1959, from Edwards AFB, California. 

Powered by two General Electric J85 turbojets, the Northrop-built aircraft entered service in 1961 and has served as the U.S. Air Force’s primary trainer ever since. 

The Air Force took delivery of more than 1,100 T-38s at an initial unit cost of $756,000 ($6.4 million in today’s dollars) before production ended in 1972. 

The aircraft proved so reliable that the service did not move to replace it until September 2018, when it awarded a $9.2 billion contract to Boeing for 475 T-X trainers and up to 120 simulators. 

The T-X is scheduled to enter service in 2024, 65 years after the T-38 first took to the skies.

See the cover image

Read the full issue of the magazine issue dated Jul. 20, 1959 and see the contents page including more information about the cover image.

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