Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
The T-38 grew from Northrop's lightweight supersonic aircraft work. Tandem seats, a thin swept wing and two General Electric J85 engines formed the advanced trainer's layout. The prototype first flew in April 1959, and the T-38A entered US Air Force service in 1961.
Aircraft background
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Read more ↗The T-38A package
The Talon also served NASA in training and support roles. Microsoft’s Famous Flyer 13 represents the T-38A, the principal early production model, rather than automatically including later T-38C cockpit upgrades.
Famous Flyer 13 — T-38A · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube Gung Ho Vids · 5 min ·
T-38 Talon Training Flight Cockpit Vid • USAF 2019
Cockpit footage from a USAF T-38 training flight in Arizona.
Real aircraft · Northrop T-38 Talon
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Northrop T-38 Talon
The T-38 grew from Northrop's lightweight supersonic aircraft work. Tandem seats, a thin swept wing and two General Electric J85 engines formed the advanced trainer's layout. The prototype first flew in April 1959, and the T-38A entered US Air Force service in 1961.
NASA also used the Talon for training and support. Microsoft's Famous Flyer 13 represents the early production T-38A, without the later T-38C cockpit upgrades.
Northrop T-38 Talon
Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
A supersonic training fleet
Northrop produced nearly 1,200 Talons between 1961 and 1972. The aircraft introduced supersonic performance to a training fleet and remained a platform for successive generations of pilots.
Northrop Grumman · T-38 Talon programme overview ↗Aircraft-specific source account
Keeping an older design in service
Northrop describes replacement wings, structural work and design improvements as part of the Talon’s sustainment. Its longevity reflects substantial renewal rather than an unchanged 1960s airframe.
Northrop Grumman · T-38 Talon programme overview ↗Aircraft-specific source account
Systems & details
The training role is broader than speed
The Air Force describes aerobatic, formation, night, instrument and navigation training in the T-38C. Test-pilot schools and NASA also used Talons for specialised training and chase work.
Identify the propulsion modification
The USAF table distinguishes standard engines from the Propulsion Modernization Program installation. Its dry and afterburning thrust figures differ, so a single thrust value should not silently cover every simulator Talon.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
MSFS 2024Famous Flyer 13 — T-38A
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
Famous Flyer 13 — T-38A
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
The T-38A packageFamous Flyer 13 — T-38A · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
The Talon also served NASA in training and support roles. Microsoft’s Famous Flyer 13 represents the T-38A, the principal early production model, rather than automatically including later T-38C cockpit upgrades.
Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Developer documentation
Microsoft Flight Simulator Releases Famous Flyer 13: The Northrop T-38A Talon - Microsoft Flight SimulatorMicrosoft Flight Simulator · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14Type designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Aircraft reference
T-38 Talon fact sheetUS Air Force · USAF specification dated January 2014; historical configuration, not current fleet totals T-38 Talon programme overviewNorthrop Grumman · Manufacturer programme historyBuilt-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 1 profile choice
Northrop T-38 Talon
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2024
Northrop T-38 Talon: The selected response supplies advanced-trainer stick resistance.
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