Sharing a Harrowing T-38 Talon Training Tale

Air Force veteran recalls past T-38 experience with emergency during solo flight.

David Haulman

Friday, March 06, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The T-38 Talon was an aircraft ahead of its time. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Air Force pilot training during the Vietnam era was exceptionally demanding, featuring rigorous daily schedules, intense competition, and a high washout rate (1 in 3 students).
The supersonic T-38 Talon served as a highly advanced and challenging trainer, requiring special skill due to its responsiveness and contributing significantly to the high attrition rate among pilot trainees.
The author successfully navigated a complete radio failure during his third solo flight in the T-38, demonstrating proficiency in lost communication procedures to ensure a safe return.
Despite expertly handling a significant in-flight emergency, the author's expectation of commendation was met with a pragmatic "interrogation," reflecting the unsentimental nature of military pilot training.

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Pilot training in the U.S. Air Force has always been extremely demanding. Despite extensive preliminary screening, a high washout rate is typical. One out of three students washed out of my class even though the air war in Vietnam was reaching its peak and pilots were in demand.

In those days, everyone went through an identical one-year program to earn their wings—two months flying the propeller-driven T-41 (Cessna 172), four months in the T-37 primary jet, and six months in the supersonic T-38 Talon. A typical training day included five hours on the flight line, four hours of academics, and an hour of physical training. One week we’d report to the flight line before dawn and attend academic classes in the afternoon, while the next week academics began the day and we’d fly late. Our training was at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama.