A sleek, supersonic T-38 trainer jet is taxied into the parking ramp at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center by chief pilot Gordon Fullerton, marking the return of the aircraft type to Dryden for the first time in more than 10 years. Formerly assigned to NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., the aircraft had supported various aeronautics research projects there for many years. The aircraft will be used by NASA Dryden’s research pilots for proficiency and mission support flights. Dryden operated two T-38s for a number of years, replacing them with newer F-18s. However, the cost of maintaining and operating the F-18s make the fuel-friendly, lower maintenance T-38 an attractive addition to Dryden’s fleet. NASA has also operated a small fleet of T-38s for pilot proficiency and training for astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Texas since the mid-1960s.February 24, 2005
NASA / Photo Tony Landis
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