Northrop T-38 Talon

Northrop T-38 Talon

Type	Military aircraft
Author(s)	David Culp (FDM), Erik Hofman Innis Cunningham Capt. Slug (3D)
FDM	JSBSim
--aircraft=	T38
Status	Early production

"In the mid-1950s, the USAF required a trainer with higher performance than the T-33 to better prepare student pilots for the latest tactical aircraft that were then coming into service. The aircraft chosen was the T-38A which offered high performance with low maintenance and operating costs. The T-38A became the USAF's first supersonic trainer." Source: NORTHROP T-38A "TALON"

FlightGear's T-38 is included in FlightGear 1.0 default aircraft and several previous releases. It can be selected from FlightGear Launch Control or with T38 from the command line. The current model uses a 2D cockpit, and supports display of AI aircraft objects on an air-air radar screen. See the Aircraft/Instruments/radar.xml file for details, or fly the T-38 for a demo. Altough the real T-38 does not have radar, it was chosen here to be the demonstrator aircraft for radar. It also demonstrates how instruments can be minimized and maximized in 2D panels.

Development status/Issues/Todo

Outside:

• flaps are extended by default
• first cockpit seat is not solid, it can be seen through the seat when looking from behind.
• no pilot/co-pilot in cockpit visible
• aircraft has no shadow
• no aircraft lighting available

3d Cockpit:

• no textures used
• not stick, rudder, throttle gear and flap objects

General:

• engines have no sound
• engine sound in cockpit does not differ from outside engine sound
• no hud available
• no sound when toggling flaps

Note: Some of these have been improved/completed in the latest release on Dculp's site (as of May 2009) found [here]