USAF T-38 Unrestricted Climb at MSP

Callsign: TALON52
Route: MSP to ---
Runway used for takeoff: 12R
Aircraft type: Northrop T-38C Talon
Registration #: 64-0265
Location: Cargo Road(Aircraft Viewing Area)
Camera: Panasonic HC-VX870
Tripod: Me on a stepladder

This video is property of Twin Cities Aviator and is not to be used in any way whatsoever without my written permission.

[dennymontgomery]

Best flight of my flying career: back in 1965 at Willy, the chief scheduler walks in, looks around and sees only me sitting there reading a paper. All my syllabus rides were complete and I would get my wings later in the week. He says, “…get your gear, we have a T-38 we need to fly.” When I told him my syllabus rides were complete, he said “…I don’t care. Maintenance generated this airplane and it needs to fly for them to get credit”. He then told me “I don’t care what you do, just go fly that airplane”. I was then turned loose for a VFR flight into a MOA to do whatever I wanted in an almost new T-38. “Oh I have slipped the bonds of earth and danced the sky in laughter silvered wings..” …truer words were never written. Even after 57 years, 3000 AF flying hours, and an RF-4C combat tour, that flight still sticks in my mind…

[flowjoe]

I’m a civilian maintainer and back in 2001 I was fortunate enough to take an incentive ride in a T-38. On take off we were cleared for unrestricted climb and it was freakin awesome!! Best ride of my life!!

[damaliamarsi]

No Music ++++ No mislabeling as "vertical takeoff" ++++ Loud engines ++++. No three hours of taxing and preparation ++++. This video shows a T-38 trainer and should itself be a training video on how to make excellent takeoff videos. Bang on!

[daveriley]

Remembering it like it was yesterday. But it's been over 50 years since I earned my USAF wings in that beautiful machine. Even today, the graceful lines of that tiny bird are a thing of incomparable beauty.

[douglasroth]

I have 1700 hours in the T-38…and this was a beautiful reminder. Thanks.

[polycarphunter]

i was a crew chief on T-38s back in 1969. i'm amazed they're still in service. the other planes i crewed were the F-100Ds and F-4Ds, long gone.

[borismedved]

Reminded me of watching F-104s when I worked at Boeing for part of a summer in 1958. I was about 200 yards from the Larson AFB alert hangar. Two F-104s would come out of the hangar, pause for a few seconds while the ground crew did whatever they were doing, and them line up with the runway already hauling ass. The only thing better than this was the hundred-foot long streak of fire with shock rings in it when they lit the afterburner. I am sure I heard one pair blow past the sound barrier a few seconds after lifting off. One pair of those suckers passed over Fairchild or Geiger Field (Spokane) at 40 thousand feet seven minutes after starting the takeoff roll. That was a hot news item in Moses Lake. Love the sound of those planes.

[MrTmac]

When I went through USAF UPT in 67-68, we did this on our dollar ride in the T-38. It made you determined that you would somehow complete the program, and earn your wings.
I always felt that every taxpayer should get a dollar ride in the T-38. All these years later, and the T-38 is still performing.

[Propnut]

One of the best flying and best looking jets made. It looks fast sitting still. ❤️

[Rama]

I liked flying T38s cross country in the 1970s. I remember cruise climbing to flight level 410 in 11 minutes. The typical length of the sortie, as I remember, was less than an hour and a 1/2, but you could fly around 700 miles in that time.

[Kestrylll]

Beautiful. She looks so svelte and quick next to all those commercial birds.

The Tomcat is a beautiful marvel of engineering, the Eagle is amazing but the Talon, Freedom Fighter and Tigershark just look like what a fighter should be.

The Viper is a close second to that image, it looks like the aftermath of the Eagle and the Tigershark spending a weekend at the coast with some wine and Barry White.

[jonathanfisher]

Those B-2 guys/girls love to climb. That's the steepest pullup I've seen from a T-38 on takeoff.

[nerblebun]

In 71 during USAF tech school at Sheppard AFB Texas, found out my 2nd cousin who I'd never met was the civilian Flight Line Superintendent for Fighter Jet Training Program. Great guy who scored me a ride in a T-38 Talon. A LT.Colonel Senior Training Instructor took me up. WOW!!!! an understatement.

[kingofcastlechaos]

I was a raft guide in the 80's and one of my customers was a T38 Instructor. We immediately bonded over the T38 since I grew up next to Ellington Field. (I actually dated the daughter of the coronel responsible for moving the shuttle via 747 between coasts- no idea why I mentioned that. since the therapist said not to ever.)
Anyway, As part of my tip, he gave me his info for a ride and I FRIGGIN LOST IT!!!
A year ago we moved "for the last time" again and I found it. What a huge deal that would have been. OMG I love that aircraft. Thanks for the video.

[miloswanson]

As a USAF Academy nominee waaaay back in the mid-'70s, I loved (and still do) the T-38! One of the prettiest Mach-capable jets - designed even before I was born! I'd give my left one (or maybe even both) to fly in one. As a side note, I attended an airshow at Lake Erie level (KBKL - Burke Lakefront Airport)in about 1974-5 in Cleveland OH, where a then-new F-15 performed a 'max-performance-takeoff', going from a standing start to straight up to 35, 000' in less than 60 seconds, before tipping over to head to it's next destination. Back then I was taking flying lessons in a Cessna 150 that could do maybe 600fpm climb rate!

[Mrbumbons]

The little jet that could. Worked them mid 80’s. Great plane.

[scottnicol]

First flight 1959. A 65 year old design. I think of the way contemporary cars looked back then. The designers drove into work in these clunky machines and produced (with slide rules no less) this piece of art that looks like it could have been minted in 2024 - simply fantastic.

[kylegilmore]

Probably the most crisp and clear heatwave mirage I've seen on video, awesome plane

[integrer]

I live right under where the Mo National Guard F-15s did these kind of climbs along with the Boeing test pilots from Lamber Saint Louis AP where every one of them is made (F-15s) The sound shakes the ground and all you can see is a little pin head in the sky. The power is absolutely insane.

[TheSupergpop]

Used to go out to the perimeter road and watch Tweets and Talons taking off and landing when I was stationed at Columbus AFB, MS from 86-88. Fun planes to watch