T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a widely used US-built supersonic jet trainer. It was the world’s first, and most produced supersonic trainer. It remains in service as of 2007 in Air Forces throughout the world including the USAF, which remains its largest user.
It is considered to have an exceptional safety record for a supersonic jet. The basic airframe was used for the light combat aircraft F-5 Freedom Fighter family. In addition to USAF pilots, T-38s are also used by NASA astronauts, other NATO pilots under a joint training program, and some under civilian ownership.
Significance
The T-38 is of particular significance to REDdimension Wiki Circle member Kevin McNulty whose uncle, Bill Gillotti, worked for Northrop for much of his career. Having been fascinated by planes from a young age, Kevin held his uncle in high esteem for his work with the famous aviation company.
Uncle Bill had a desk model of the T-38 painted in the traditional white-and-orange training paint scheme which he kept on his bedroom dresser. Whenever Kevin would visit he would beg his uncle to let him play with the model, with Bill eventually relenting with cautions to be careful. Though Kevin recalls little from his early childhood, the memory of his Uncle's model is burned into his brain.
When Bill died in 1991, his wife, Kathy, asked if there were anything Kevin wanted of Bill's. Kevin's only request was the desk model of the T-38. Alas, it had been lost in Bill and Kathy's move from Torrance, CA to Fountain Valley, CA a decade before. Trying to fulfill the spirit of Kevin's wish, Kathy gave him Bill's desk model of an F-18 Hornet (which came from Bill's work on the YF-17 Cobra) instead.
At an air show in 2006, Kevin saw a T-38 on static display, its pilot standing proudly by the plane. Kevin told the pilot the story of his uncle and his work on the Talon. The pilot kindly responded, "Your uncle made a great airplane."
