Flight marks end of era

Published Dec. 11, 2006
By 1st Lt Jason Bishop
Public Affairs

Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- A forty year-old plane trained its last student Tuesday bringing to an end more than 40 years of the T-38A "Talon," which is being replaced by the T-38C, flew its last student sortie Tuesday after training roughly 20,000 students since its arrival in April 1963.
"The T-38A has served the 25th Flying Training Squadron and the United States Air Force well," said Lt Col Leonard Litton, 25th FTS commander.
The final student flight for the T-38A was met with some fanfare. Marianne Silber, KOCO channel 5 Oklahoma City and Kevin Hassler, Enid News & Eagle associate editor, each flew in
T-38Cs along side the T-38As during the historical flight.
With the exception of a few antennas, the outside of the new T-38C model is exactly the same as the T-38A. The major difference between the jets is in the cockpit.
The T-38C has the upgraded digital cockpit. This will be used to get students used to the digital technology they will be using when they get to their front-line aircraft. Included in the new trainer will be a heads-up display, electronic engine displays, Global Position System and multi-functional displays.
"The T-38C brings tremendous new capability to the undergraduate pilot training arena," Colonel Litton said. "The C-model will allow our student pilots to be better prepared for their follow-on training."
The first T-38C arrived at Vance in May 2003 and students began training in the upgraded model in September.
The cost of the upgrade is $600,000 for each aircraft. The A models from Vance are headed to Randolph AFB, Texas for use until they can be worked into the pipeline for conversion to C models at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz.
The last class to use the T-37As graduates today nearly 40 years after the first class to use them graduated in June 1964.
Following graduation today, 2nd Lt
Chad Rogers, who flew the last student T-38A flight will head to Randolph AFB, Texas for instructor pilot training. Following IP training he will return to Vance and instruct on the T-38C model.
(See more photos on Feature page 14)