May 8,
2008: The U.S. Air Force grounded
over 500 T-38C jet trainers for five days, after two of them crashed in an eight day period.
The air force hustled to find out if there was a connection between the two
crashes, and if there was any kind of fundamental flaw in the aircraft. There wasn't.
The T-38
has been in use as a trainer for 47 years, and has a good safety records.
Existing T-38s are undergoing structural and electronics upgrades, to keep them
going for another twelve years. Production of some 1,200 T-38s ended in 1972,
so all existing models are over 36 years old. The five ton aircraft is actually
a variant of the F-5 fighter aircraft (a few of these are still in service).
Several other nations use the T-38, but many newer trainer designs are
beginning bought as replacements.
