Northrop T-38C Talon "White Rocket"

The 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), and formerly of the now inactivated Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The 12 FTW is the only unit in the Air Force conducting both pilot instructor training and combat systems officer training. The mission of the 12 FTW is to provide instructor pilot training in the Raytheon-Beech T-6A Texan II, the Northrop T-38 Talon and the Beech T-1A Jayhawk jet trainers. The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2012 in air forces throughout the world. The T-38 has been in service for over 50 years with the USAF. The T-38C is used to prepare pilots for aircraft such as the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle, as well as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, A-10 Thunderbolt, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The AETC received T-38Cs in 2001 as part of the Avionics Upgrade Program. The T-38Cs owned by the AETC have undergone propulsion modernization which replaces major engine components to enhance reliability and maintainability, and an engine inlet/injector modification to increase available takeoff thrust. The upgrades and modifications, with the Pacer Classic program, should extend the service life of T-38s past 2020. See more...