The Northrop T38 Talon is a twoseat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the world's first supersonic trainer as well as the most produced.

The T38 can be traced back to 1952 and Northrop's N102 Fang and N156 fighter aircraft projects. During the mid1950s, Northrop officials decided to adapt the N156 to suit a recently issued general operating requirement by the United States Air Force (USAF) for a supersonic trainer to replace the Lockheed T33. The bid was successful, in no small part on its lower lifecycle cost comparisons to competing aircraft, and the company received an initial order to build three prototypes. The first of these, designated YT38, made its maiden flight on 10 April 1959. The T38 was introduced to USAF service on 17 March 1961.

The USAF is the largest operator of the T38. Additional operators of the T38 include NASA and the United States Navy. U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, is the principal US Navy operator. Other T38s were previously used by the US Navy for dissimilar air combat training until replaced by the similar Northrop F5 Tiger II. Pilots of other NATO nations have commonly flown the T38 during joint training programs with American pilots. The T38 remains in service as of 2023 with several air forces. As of 2023, the T38 has been in service for over 60 years with the USAF, its original operator. In September 2018, USAF announced the replacement of the Talon by the Boeing–Saab T7 Red Hawk with phaseout to begin in 2023.

Castle Air Museum affords visitors from the region and throughout the world the opportunity to learn the costly sacrifices of the men and women who designed, built, maintained and flew these aircraft into hostile skies to defend freedom and liberty with many making the ultimate sacrifice. The Museum also serves to educate on the past milestones in aviation and what the future of aerospace may hold in store.

Castle Air Museum, located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley is the largest aviation museum between Southern California and the State of Washington with over seventy restored vintage military aircraft on static exhibit with more to arrive in the future! The Museum is adjacent to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport, and officially opened to the public in 1981 as a nonprofit 501c3 organization with a mission “to preserve military aviation heritage for future generations.” Today the Museum has evolved into a premier showcase for families, history buffs, schools, tourists, and aviation enthusiasts.

Visit Castle Air Museum Online:
https://www.castleairmuseum.org