The Jet Behind Every U.S. Fighter Pilot

The Northrop T-38 Talon is a supersonic jet trainer introduced in 1961, adapted from the F-5 Freedom Fighter and recognized as the world’s first supersonic trainer, designed to prepare pilots for high-performance aircraft with twin engines, a lightweight design, and the ability to exceed Mach 1. Used by the U.S. Air Force and NASA, it has trained thousands of pilots over six decades and remains operational through modern upgrades like digital avionics, making it one of the most influential jet trainers in history before being gradually replaced by the next-generation Boeing T-7 Red Hawk.