1960s TV Sign Off

The T-38 Talon is a great aircraft.

I had the privilege if flying it in USAF Pilot Training in the early 70's.

My last ride in the T-38's was my checkride with an old Colonel from WW II. (Probably younger than my age now!!!! LOL!)

As I completed my check ride with a perfect score, he said to me, "Lt, you have it and you have 10 minutes to enjoy your last ride in this fine aircraft."

I took the airplane and soared up and over and around the small cumulus clouds covering West Texas that day.

I was so excited that I said, "Gee Sir, this must be what it would be like to be a great bird!""

Silence from the back seat!!

He then said, "You are not one of those Hippie guys are you?" rather crossly!

I thought I had done it then as he was serious being just back from Vietnam in F-4s and having been cursed at in San Francisco on his return.

I passed but I was worried.

I remember seeing this signoff as a high school student and deciding that I wanted to fly this airplane.

I got to fly it and others! For those who have not had that great opportunity, I will tell you it was really worth all the effort.

JW Stealey
USAFA 70
Lt. Colonel, USAF Retired
www.TotalSims.com

I agree with LC Stealy. Many a night in ND that video was the last thing I saw before I went to bed and it helped set the direction of my career. I have not seen it for over 20 years but remember it vividly to this day.

I too flew the T-38 in pilot training and loved it dearly. It had a roll rate of over 360 degrees per second and (with light a light fuel load) it was capable of climbing vertically until it ran out of air.

Every year I visit the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh. I make a point of visiting the part of the ramp where one of these beautiful planes is parked. I stand there in awe of its sensuous lines and truly wonderful abilities and think to myself, "I used to fly one of those"....
PT Class 70-03, Vance AFB

Couldn't agree more with you gentlemen. My -38 instructor was the ":best of the best". The first day my tablemate and I sat down with him he said, "As far as I'm concerned you guys are pilots, I'm just going to teach you to fly a new plane....if you come ready each and every day, I will find time during each sortie to have some fun". How true...it is amazing how conscious I was at the time as to realize just how fortunate I was to fly the thing. A 20 year old kid getting paid to fly a supersonic jet! It really was the time of my life....the most challenging yet rewarding experience a young man could ever possibly hope to have. I was truly blessed.

LtCol Dave Bakos
Laughlin AFB, TX
89-09

The T-38 Talon or "White Rocket" was a joy to fly. I remember the TV Sign off as a young lad growing up and was very fortunate to fly it in USAF pilot training at Reese AFB in 1969 (70-05). The film brought back many wonderful memories. An excellent supersonic trainer and we got to fly them in our early 20's! They are still in the AF inventory after 40+ years as an advanced trainer and they ARE being upgraded to glass cockpits. 33 years after I got my AF wings, my son earned his AF wings in them, even flying some tail numbers that I flew!

Find out more at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-38_Talon

Go Air Force!
Marty Noonan
Continental Airlines (Ret).

I flew the T-38 for 15 years. Brings back lots of memories.

Our first ride in the USAF T-38 was called (I think?) the dollar ride. Supossedly paid for by Northrop Aviation. The ride started with an afterburner climb to 50,000 feet and then a demonstration of the aircraft's capabilities. The view of Webb Air Force Base (Big Spring, TX) and west Texas from that beautiful airplane was magnificent. My anesthesiology practice has two of us who flew the F-4 Phantom, but we both agree that having a T-38 to fly again would be a dream come true. It is truly a pilot's airplane.
Dr MacGregor (Mac) Poll
67H

I spent 4 great years as a T-38 IP and Flight Examiner at Laredo AFB from 1966-1970.

This video brings back memories of this beautiful aircraft as if it were yesterday!

It was, without doubt, the most enjoyable aircraft I have flown in my military or civilian flying career.

Ron Kerlin
LtCol, USAF(ret)
Ft Myers, FL

I agree with "Wild Bill". I was blessed with the opportunity to caress this baby for over 2000 hours. While this was 30 years and 25,000 hours ago, I will never forget it. Some of the best times of my life.

Vic Hooper
USAFA '70

From somewhere over China

I was in UPT class 82-01 at Reese and after graduating as a DG I was promised one of my first 3 choices. Well, the T-38 was not one of them and the Wing CO reneged on his promise. But I must say that coming back as a FAIP, flying and instructing on the T-38 was the most fun I will ever have in my lifetime.

My last year and a half I flew FCF flights and that was the best. Flying solo and after checking out the jet I got to fly around those huge cumulus clouds that always formed in west Texas during the spring and summer.

I think I may have flown the -38 in the video while in PIT at Randolph. I need to check out my old logbook and see if I can find that tail number. I sure miss flying that beautiful white rocket.

Capt. Dale A. Ende
757 Capt Northwest Airlines

I too loved flying the T-38 for all 2400 hours of it. Pilot training at Craig in 69-04 was a blast. We even did 4 ship acro with 2 & 4 as solo students back then! After Vietnam F-100s I flew as a T-38 IP and FCF at Columbus. I finally ended with 2 years instructing in the "AT-38B" at Holloman. That was even more fun hurling the White rocket at the ground and hasseling each other at 6.5 Gs.

My ops off in Vietnam was a test pilot type who had flown every Century Series jet in the USAF. We once asked him what was his favorite plane to fly (figuring he's say the F-104 or Thud.) Imagine our surprise when he said the T-38! He said it was the only plane that actually made him feel like _he_ was flying, and not him flying a plane.

Joe Vincent
Retired FeEx DC-10s

PS: Vic Hooper - i recognize your name from Columbus - Falcon Flight?