Almost 40 years after it gave chase to the space shuttle Enterprise, a NASA jet is about to catch up with the prototype winged orbiter at a museum in New York City.
The two-seat, supersonic T-38 Talon jet, tail number 913, is set to land on the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, a converted aircraft carrier berthed on the west side of Manhattan, in early April. Enterprise has been on display at the Intrepid since 2012.
"This is the perfect airplane to enhance Enterprise's story," said Eric Boehm, the curator of aviation at the Intrepid, in an exclusive interview with collectSPACE.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-16-2016 10:33 AM
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum video
Our new NASA T-38 Talon that flew with Enterprise has arrived! It will be raised to our flight deck soon, once the weather is clear.
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 04-20-2016 12:14 PM
Craning of the T-38 onto the flight deck has been rescheduled between 9-10 a.m. next Wednesday, April 27, again weather permitting. Until then, it can be seen on the pier next to Intrepid.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
A NASA supersonic jet that chased the space shuttle Enterprise as it performed test landings in California 40 years ago has finally caught up with the prototype orbiter in New York City.
The T-38 Talon jet, tail number 913, was hoisted by crane and raised by elevator to the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on Wednesday (April 27) in Manhattan. The jet's "landing" took place exactly four years to the day since the space shuttle Enterprise arrived in New York for display aboard the converted aircraft carrier.
"Well, it's finally here," said Eric Boehm, the curator of aviation at the Intrepid. "We had the T-38 here [on the pier for] a couple of weeks [but] we had some really bad winds and could not get it up to the flight deck. But we craned it this morning onto the port-side aircraft elevator and brought the elevator up."
"The T-38 is finally home and soon to be on display right outside the space shuttle pavilion building," Boehm said.
AlanC Member
Posts: 147 From: Scotland Registered: Nov 2014
posted 04-28-2016 02:54 PM
It's a beautiful aeroplane — the definition of "sleek."
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 04-28-2016 03:30 PM
I've probably said it here before, but to me the T-38 is the most aesthetically perfect jet ever... there's nothing you could add, subtract, or change that would be an improvement (especially in NASA livery).
Ronpur Member
Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 04-29-2016 07:59 AM
It looked pretty sexy as a Thunderbird, too!
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 04-29-2016 08:12 PM
It certainly did. Pretty sure those late '70s Thunderbirds were when I first fell in love with the airplane, as I didn't catch the NASA bug until the Shuttle flew.
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 05-02-2016 11:00 AM
Had the opportunity to see the USAF Thunderbirds when I lived in Florida during 1975-77, and saw future astronaut (then Capt.) Lacy Veach fly with the team.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 05-02-2016 01:34 PM
quote:Originally posted by GoesTo11: I've probably said it here before, but to me the T-38 is the most aesthetically perfect jet ever... there's nothing you could add, subtract, or change that would be an improvement (especially in NASA livery).
I agree. I want a model 1:72 scale in NASA livery!