owning a T-38

[Bill Mostellar]

T-38 is an OUTSTANDING airframe: easy to fly, easy to land, and very easy in formation.

As others have said, supersonic isn't as big a thrill as you would think - at altitude with no real perspective on the speed. The T-38 was great down low, especially in formation!

If I had the money, I would actually purchase a T-37 instead (I don't have any hearing left anyway). It's much less expensive to operate and much easier for "non-pilots" to fly when you take them up for a spin - think C-172 on steroids (if you really want a thrill, try the OA-37. It's a T-37 with T-38 engines minus the burners).

 

[propsarebest]

T-38 is an OUTSTANDING airframe: easy to fly, easy to land, and very easy in formation.

As others have said, supersonic isn't as big a thrill as you would think - at altitude with no real perspective on the speed. The T-38 was great down low, especially in formation!

If I had the money, I would actually purchase a T-37 instead (I don't have any hearing left anyway). It's much less expensive to operate and much easier for "non-pilots" to fly when you take them up for a spin - think C-172 on steroids (if you really want a thrill, try the OA-37. It's a T-37 with T-38 engines minus the burners).

THE GREAT CONVERTER!


A T-37 would be awesome!

 

[Spooky 2]

Another good choice would be the Alpha Jet. Two place, two engines, great airframe and excellent handling qualities, good spare support. Out the door all tricked up with hot seats for around 2.7 million.

 

[puck_11]

That's Chuck Thornton's pride and joy, and has been for sale for like 10 years now. He found it in a barn in the midwest somewhere when a student landed gear up in a field.

Is that story for real, sounds too good to be true, the AF didn't reclaim that bird?

That jet is Ross Perot, Jr's personal T-38. I saw it in July, and it looks like the aft end has some F-5 parts on it.

What exactly is the difference between an F-5 and a T-38?

 

[puck_11]

Another good choice would be the Alpha Jet. Two place, two engines, great airframe and excellent handling qualities, good spare support. Out the door all tricked up with hot seats for around 2.7 million.

How about an L-39, those go for around $300k, does anyone know anything about them, besides being relatively cheap?

 

[puck_11]

Since I'm really bored and really interested in this thread, here's a guy who bought a sea harrier from the RAF. He recently had to make an emergency landing with it, but the entire story is fascinating to read.

http://www.nallsaviation.com/index.htm

 

[highsky]

T-38 Range (no wind) is about 750 nm at FL 390. It will take you about 3400# of fuel from engine start to shutdown. Having been supersonic in the T-38, believe me that you're not missing anything. The difference between .9 and 1.0 Mach is about,... 1 mile per minute.... and a lot of fuel. Going 420 knots at 500' is WAY more fun than going supersonic.

I agree, also having flown it.

The best part of the supersonic flight was the unrestricted climb to FL390 at 18,000 fpm. Supersonic was cool just to fill the square, but once I did it, I never felt compelled to do it again.

 

[Spooky 2]

How about an L-39, those go for around $300k, does anyone know anything about them, besides being relatively cheap?

Simply no comparison to the Alpha Jet. The AJ is still in active srevice with various NATO countries and is used by the French AF equivalent of the Thunder Birds. Please no French jokes, just reporting the facts.

 

[puck_11]

Simply no comparison to the Alpha Jet. The AJ is still in active srevice with various NATO countries and is used by the French AF equivalent of the Thunder Birds. Please no French jokes, just reporting the facts.

Whoops, didn't mean to imply a comparison. I was just curious if anyone had any experience with them.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

How about an L-39, those go for around $300k, does anyone know anything about them, besides being relatively cheap?

I've got 1.5 in one. Long takeoff roll especially high/hot. Not very long legs either, unless you have the external tanks put on.

The upside is that there are plenty of parts around for them and I think the L-59 is still in service. The other upside is great visibility and a tandem setup, not the side-by-side cockpit of the Tweet or the Tutor.

The guys up in Rockford, Il can tell you everything you need to know.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The T-38 doesn't observe the 250 kt. limitation. It can't fly slowly safely, because the wings are so small, it doesn't develop much lift.

While there is no "speed limit", as my instructor told me, flying 650 kts at about 4000' was a little excessive.

cliff
YIP

 

[414Flyer]

Simply no comparison to the Alpha Jet. The AJ is still in active srevice with various NATO countries and is used by the French AF equivalent of the Thunder Birds. Please no French jokes, just reporting the facts.

There is an Alpha Jet based here in Boise

 

[propsarebest]

There is an Alpha Jet based here in Boise

There is some operation up in WA state that is importing them and has a couple for sale right now. I believe they are all ex Luftwaffe planes.

 

[Huggyu2]

"The guys in Rockford" are Pride Aircraft. If you want an L-39 checkout, they are probably the best. Buck Wyndham is one of their IP's: I know him, and he's about a knowledgeable a pilot as you will ever find.

L-39's are plummeting in price. There are L-39's out there, flying and in beautiful shape, for around $100,000. Granted, most are more than this, but the companies that are trying to get $400K for theirs are going to really have to have some top end equipment, and go for the top-end market. For "the budget conscious", you can find Soko's, Casa's, Iskra's and the like for $15K-$35K, ready to fly.

The T-38 doesn't have a 250 speed limit, but it does have a 300 KIAS limit.

 

[puck_11]

We were discussing this the other day in the ready room, if you're a civilian flying an ex-military jet, can you get clearance to go into the MOA's and go rage around for awhile, so you can actually fly the jet like its supposed to be flown? Assuming it's not busy, and you're not f'ing up the current users?

 

[Huggyu2]

We were discussing this the other day in the ready room, if you're a civilian flying an ex-military jet, can you get clearance to go into the MOA's and go rage around for awhile, so you can actually fly the jet like its supposed to be flown? Assuming it's not busy, and you're not f'ing up the current users?

Not sure of what "the rules" say, but I did go into a MOA with civilian jet warbird (Iskra), got Center to activate the MOA, and got the same service that I would have had as a military jet.

 

[Gorilla]

I agree that a T-37, while not as cool as a '38, would be an infinitely more practical warbird. Especially if you could swap out those horrible Continental engines and replace them with small, modern, mini fan engines. You'd probably get more power and triple the fuel economy.

 

[stonewall]

No restrictions on civilian aircraft flying in MOAs, even when they're active.

It's not smart to fly through a patch of air where there might be 4-6 fighters raging around at all altitudes and airspeeds and not looking for YOU, but it's not illegal.

 

[tomgoodman]

Super Tweet

I agree that a T-37, while not as cool as a '38, would be an infinitely more practical warbird. Especially if you could swap out those horrible Continental engines and replace them with small, modern, mini fan engines. You'd probably get more power and triple the fuel economy.

Wonder if there are any privately-owned A-37s around. We exported some to Central/South America, as well as S. Vietnam. May still be a few at Edwards AFB.

 

[414Flyer]

Wonder if there are any privately-owned A-37s around. We exported some to Central/South America, as well as S. Vietnam. May still be a few at Edwards AFB.

http://www.a-37.org/down_under.htm