Training A Tiger

The F-5 Tiger is a highly maneuverable supersonic fighter jet produced in the U.S. by Northrop Grumman and used by militaries worldwide. The T-38 Talon, which shares an origin with the F-5, was the most-produced supersonic training aircraft in the world. At AllClear, we help our customers keep these legendary aircraft flying by providing parts, service, and repair options worldwide.

F-5/T-38 History and Development

The first F-5 Tiger test flight was held at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on July 31, 1963, with the first delivery to the U.S. Air Force in 1964. The single-seat N-156 fighter was initially designed to operate from  U.S. Navy Escort Carriers. After this carrier class was retired, Northrop continued developing the single-seat N-156F fighter and a two-seat N-156T combat trainer.

At around the same time, the Air Force was looking to replace its Lockheed T-33 trainers that had been used since the 1940s, and the N-156T looked like the best option. It was this design that came to be known as the T-38 Talon. Northrop continued to develop the N-156F until the Military Assistance Program propelled it into full-scale development and production for the Air Force and American allies. This became the F-5 Tiger, which is still actively flown by Brazil, Mexico, and Taiwan.

The F-5A was a single-seat tactical fighter optimized for air-to-ground missions. Powered by two GE J85-GE-13 turbojets, the maximum speed was Mach 1.4 at 30,000 feet with a service ceiling of 50,000 feet and a range of over 1,300 miles. The F-5B was originally developed as a two-seat training aircraft that replaced some of the F-5A armaments and internal space with an instructor cockpit.

Meanwhile, the T-38 has been used by the Air Force Air Education and Training Command since 1961, serving as a trainer for front-line fighter and bomber pilots. Other Air Force offices, as well as NASA, have also used the T-38A trainer. Requiring as little as 2,300 feet of runway, the T-38 can reach an altitude of 30,000 feet in one minute.

Use of the T-38 Through the Years

With its swept wings and streamlined fuselage, the T-38 quickly asserted itself as an effective supersonic combat trainer, with the T-38A being the most used variant. The AT-38B was developed to serve as a weapons training aircraft, incorporating a gun sight and practice bomb dispenser. The waist-high location of most critical components on the T-38 makes them easily reachable by maintenance crews.

Between 1961 and 1972, Northrop delivered more than 1,100 T-38s to the Air Force. Over the years, the T-38 program has evolved into a Pacer Classic sustainment program, with essential modifications to the airframe, engine, system components, and major structural replacements.

The T-38 was used by the Strategic Air Command to train bomber and tanker copilots and as a proficiency aircraft to train all pilots for many Air Force aircraft. Currently, the T-38 trains U-2 and B-2 pilots for the Air Combat Command and Global Strike Command, respectively.

In 2001, the Air Force began taking deliveries of the T-38C, which includes a glass cockpit, as a part of its Avionics Upgrade Program. The T-38C has subsequently been upgraded with an advanced propulsion system. The entire T-38 program is slated for phaseout beginning in 2023.

In addition to being used as a combat trainer, the T-38 is used by advanced Joint Services Unified Pilot Training students for aerobatics, formation, night, instrument, and cross-country navigation training. Material Command employs T-38s to test experimental electronics and weapons systems. Most NATO country pilots train on the T-38 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. International T-38 operators include Turkey, Portugal, and Germany. NASA uses the T-38 as a training aircraft and uses it as a chase aircraft during the Space Shuttle Program.

F-5 and T-38 Upgrades and Repairs

AllClear has been recognized as a leading F-5 and T-38 aftermarket service provider. We have agreements with F-5 and T-38 OEMs, including Honeywell Aerospace, AMETEK, Collins Aerospace, and others, allowing us to provide sustainment and modernization services that exceed the original aircraft specifications. We stock and distribute hundreds of F-5 and T-38 parts through our partnerships, supporting every major aircraft system.

In addition to distributing parts, AllClear coordinates with a global network of MRO partners to provide our F-5 and T-38 customers with repair management, tooling development, engineering, manufacturing, and logistics solutions.

When it comes to maintaining the F-5 or T-38, our customers rely on AllClear, an aerospace aftermarket services provider, to provide them with the parts and necessary expertise. If you are looking for a partner to keep your F-5 Tiger or T-38 Talon operational, contact AllClear to see how we can help.