RAF Typhoons deploy and remembering the first flight of the Talon
RAF Typhoons deploy and remembering the first flight of the Talon
Eurofighter Typhoons from the RAF deploy to Romania and remembering the first flight of an iconic supersonic trainer.
Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two it’s a flight; send four and it’s a test of airpower.
-Richard Kohn
Mission Briefing
The RAF deploys Eurofighter Typhoons to mainland Europe: Over the coming four months, RAF Lossiemouth, situated in the picturesque landscapes of Scotland, will be a hive of activity as it dispatches its fighter jets along with approximately 200 dedicated personnel. Their mission? To partake in enhanced air policing operations under the vigilant eye of NATO command, joining forces with the Romanian Air Force in a display of aerial prowess and solidarity. Wing Commander Karl Bird, the esteemed leader of the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, marks this as the RAF's fifth venture into such a mission on Romanian soil since the initiative's inception in 2014. He notes, "These missions are pivotal in bolstering our rapid response and deterrence capabilities, showcasing the unbreakable unity within the Alliance. It's all about keeping the NATO skies safe, round the clock."
This strategic movement will see the RAF's versatile multi-role combat aircraft setting up base at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, poised for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties through to August 2024. These operations are a direct response to evolving security concerns, ensuring readiness to face any threats head-on.
Such Enhanced Air Policing missions are meticulously planned well in advance and are a testament to the seamless cooperation amongst NATO's Allied Air Forces. These deployments are a cornerstone of NATO's strategy, aimed at reinforcing collective deterrence and safeguarding the sovereignty and security of the Alliance's airspace.
We are seeing more and more troops and equipment being moved to a front line in what is becoming the New Cold War following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This week in aviation history
10 April 1959: On a crisp day at Edwards Air Force Base in California, a groundbreaking moment unfolded as Lewis A. Nelson, a seasoned test pilot for Northrop, took to the skies in the maiden flight of the YT-38-5-NO Talon, bearing the serial number 58-1191. This event marked the beginning of a new chapter in aviation, led by Northrop's initiative to craft an advanced trainer jet that would later make history.
Behind the Talon's inception was a visionary team, spearheaded by the legendary Edgar Schmued. Schmued, celebrated for his influential designs like the P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, and F-100 Super Sabre, brought his expertise to Northrop. The Talon emerged as a sleek, twin-engine marvel capable of breaking the sound barrier, a testament to more than 5,500 hours of meticulous wind tunnel analysis that shaped its final form.
The Talon's journey from prototype to legend continued as the initial YT-38s underwent enhancements, evolving into the YT-38A configuration. This refined version captivated the United States Air Force, leading to its production under the designation T-38A Talon.
The T-38 Talon carved its name in the annals of aviation as the world's first supersonic flight trainer. Its design is a masterpiece of efficiency and speed, featuring a pressurized cabin for two, twin General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines, and a fuselage designed to slice through the air with minimal resistance. Utilizing the "area-rule" for optimal supersonic performance, the T-38 boasts dimensions and power that enable it to reach dazzling speeds and altitudes.
From its aerodynamically refined wingspan to the power packed within its engines, the T-38A is a symbol of aerial prowess. Capable of reaching speeds beyond Mach 1 and climbing at a rate that leaves observers in awe, its operational ceiling and range are just as impressive. Between 1959 and 1972, Northrop's Hawthorne factory in California produced 1,187 of these iconic trainers, each contributing to the legacy of the T-38 Talon as an integral part of pilot training programs and a landmark achievement in supersonic aviation.
In case you missed it
Last week’s post was about Red Flag, here’s the video that goes into more detail:
Photo Outlet
Tora! Tora! Tora! Here is one of the participating aircraft from last year’s Wings Over Houston airshow. If you haven’t seen their Pearl Harbor reenactment, you really should check them out! The act is over 50 years old - incredible.
Post Flight Debrief
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. If you’d like to directly support my efforts, check out my shop:
Now you know!
-Tog