For the US Air Force, the T-38 prepares students for high-performance combat aviation in wide-open airspace. Meanwhile, the T-45 emphasizes the challenges of carrier operations.
The US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps each have their own air wing, and all three services have a litany of high-performance fighter aircraft in their arsenals. However, the methods by which each branch trains its future fighter pilots vary significantly. The three services do not even use the same kind of training aircraft; while the US Air Force trains its future fighter pilots in the Northrop T-38 Talon, the Navy and Marine Corps rely upon the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.
These two aircraft serve as stepping stones to frontline fighters, but they differ significantly in terms of design philosophies and performance envelopes.
Comparing the T-38 and T-45 Goshawk
| Aircraft | T-38 Talon | T-45 Goshawk |
| Year Introduced | 1961 | 1991 |
| Number Built | ~1,187 (most retired) | ~221 |
| Length | 46 ft 4 in (14.1 m) | 39.4 ft (12.0 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m) | 13.2 ft (4.4 m) |
| Wingspan | 25 ft 3 in (7.7 m) | 30.9 ft (9.39 m) |
| Weight, standard conditions | ~11,000 lbs (5,000 kg) | ~10,500 lb (4,760 kg) |
| Weight, maximum takeoff | ~12,700 lbs (5,760 kg) | ~14,800 lb (6,720 kg) |
| Engine(s) | Two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojets (each 2,900 lbf dry/3,850 lbf with afterburners) | One Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 871 turbofan (~5,845 lbf thrust) |
| Top Speed | Mach 1.3 (~858 mph/1,380 km/h at altitude) | Mach 0.95 (~645 mph, 1,040 km/h) |
| Range | ~1,140 mi (1,835 km) | ~920 mi (1,480 km) |
| Service Ceiling | ~55,000 ft (16,800 m) | 42,500 ft (12,950 m) |
| Loadout | None in standard trainer role (prototype “F-5 derivative” carried guns/ordnance; USAF trainers unarmed) | Centerline pylon: practice bomb rack or gun podWing pylons: external fuel tanks or training ordnance (e.g., rocket pods, captive AIM-9) |
| Aircrew | 2 (student + instructor) | 2 (student + instructor, tandem cockpit) |
The T-38 Talon Is Highly Maneuverable
The T-38 is a lean, supersonic aircraft characterized by its notably slender fuselage and short, stubby wings. First introduced in the 1950s, the T-38 was the world’s first supersonic jet trainer, boasting a top speed of approximately Mach 1.3 (around 997 mph). Offering excellent climb performance, the T-38 benefits from its twin-engine design, capable of superb agility and acceleration.
The T-38’s performance profile is much more closely aligned with that of a frontline fighter than the Navy/Marine Corps’ T-45 Goshawk. This does not mean, of course, that the plane is easy to fly; it requires finesse and precision at high speeds, thereby better preparing future US Air Force pilots for the environment they will experience in more modern jets like the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, or F-35 Lightning II.
The T-45 Goshawk Is Rugged and Forgiving
Unlike the T-38, the T-45 Goshawk is derived from the British BAE Hawk and offers students a carrier-capable flight training platform. Rugged and forgiving as needed to teach new students the demands of landing on an aircraft carrier, the T-45 features reinforced landing gear, tailhook, and a heftier nose strut, all of which make the T-45 substantially heavier than the original BAE Hawk.
The result is a more sluggish subsonic aircraft, with a top speed of Mach 0.95 (approximately 728 mph) and a modest thrust-to-weight ratio. The T-45 fails to replicate the performance envelopes of frontline fighters such as the F/A-18 or F-35. Instead, the aircraft is calibrated to provide students with the tools to learn precision flying—and master the technically challenging aspects of operations on an aircraft carrier.
Different Planes for Different Training Philosophies
The difference in performance and design between the two trainer aircraft underscores the varying training philosophies of the various branches. For the US Air Force, the T-38 prepares students for high-performance combat aviation in wide-open airspace. The training regimen and the aircraft’s performance envelope require supersonic speeds, formation flying, and tactical maneuvering. Students are expected to master energy management, rapid decision-making at high closure rates, and aerobatic proficiency at altitudes and speeds comparable to frontline fighters. The T-38 challenges students to think ahead of the jet and develop the fine motor skills and mental agility necessary to operate in a high-G environment.
For the Navy and the Marine Corps, the T-45 emphasizes the challenges of carrier operations. Students must learn to land on a moving, pitching, and tiny deck. Accordingly, the T-45 syllabus revolves around pattern work, instrument approaches, and the “ball flying” required to land on carriers. T-45 students are expected to develop habits of stability, consistency, and anticipation to eliminate even the most minor mistakes, which could prove fatal during a carrier landing. Dogfighting and high-G maneuvers are taught, of course—but the basics of carrier operations are far more important.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
