Northrop T-38 Talon
Northrop · jet, 2 engines · ICAO T38
The Northrop T-38 Talon has the lowest wingspan-to-length ratio and the 2nd-shortest wingspan of the 364 types on this site, and the joint 2nd-highest FAA reference approach speed of the 364 types on this site (the input for its Approach Category).
Airport design codes
- I
Design Group I. Set by wingspan and tail height alike.
- D
Approach Category D. From its FAA reference approach speed of 160 kt (band 141 to 165 kt).
Gear and weights
| Cockpit to main gear | 18.7 ft | 5.7 m |
|---|---|---|
| Span-to-length ratio | 0.55 | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 12,093 lb | 5,485 kg |
| Main gear code | S | |
| Taxiway Design Group | 1A | |
| ICAO wake category | Light |
Where it sits
The T-38 also has the lowest tail, the shortest length, the lowest maximum takeoff weight, the 2nd-narrowest main gear and the 2nd-shortest wheelbase in Approach Category D (39 types). By length it falls between the Beech Super King Air 300 and the Beechcraft Premier I.
Main gear 11.2 ft wide (3.4 m), 44% of the span; wheelbase 18.7 ft (5.7 m), 40% of the length.
US records: 119,968 US flight-plan operations in FY2024; 36 on the US register.
Closest in size on this site
- Northrop T-38 Talon
- Boeing T-45 Goshawk
- Learjet 25
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.