Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5407
Northrop T-38C Talon 69-7079, 49th FTS "Black Knights", Moody AFB, Georgia 2006
 
General Background
The first prototype of what would become the Northrop T-38 Talon and F-5 Freedom Fighters flew on April 10, 1959. The first Talon entered service on March 17, 1961 at Randolph AFB. The USAF and NASA used the Talon to help their pilots maintain their proficiency. NASA especially liked the T-38 for its much lower operating and maintenance costs compared to the F-18 they had tried. Because of the low cost to operate the T-38 the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team used them from 1974 – 1983 during the OPEC oil embargo.
 
The Aircraft
In 1952 the unit was re-activated as the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and once again inactivated in 1987, reactivated in 1990 as the 49th Flying Training Squadron. Located at Columbus AFB, Mississippi their mission is to conduct the advanced phase of undergraduate pilot training and basic procedures and techniques for fighters. In 2000 they moved to Moody AFB, Georgia and in 2001 upgraded to the newer T-38Cs. In 2003 they became the 49th Fighter Training Squadron. In 2007 they returned to Columbus.