FLight Test tales from the Dark Side. T 38 flying at EDW when we left Edwards flying club.

FLight Test tales from the Dark Side. T 38 flying at EDW when we left Edwards flying club.
Vance AFB
Different rules for operating a T-38 not assigned to the training command.

[@JMdfcv]

Landed a Tweet at Williams during a UPT cross country with an O-6 IP. The base was closed due to winds. The IP said land so I landed. That entire trip was surreal. The 38 was a blast to fly. UPT at Reese, LIFT at Holloman. Then back as an AT-38B IFF IP at HMN and CBM. Good times. Used to fly our QF-4Es out to EDW for TPS student fam flights so they could practice their doublets. Learned that not all TPS students are Chuck Yeager…couple of close calls. Did get to land on the dry lake twice, fun (crew chiefs not so much…). Second trip out the school gave me a front seat F-16D payback sortie, great time including the stalls & falls.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, I really enjoyed landing on the lake beds. I checked a number of pilots out on lake bed landings as a T-38 IO.

[@gcorriveau6864]

It sounds like you had a great 'temporary gig' while awaiting the airline callbacks to begin! Thanks for sharing.

[@charlieabbott8516]

Nice vett I have a C6 when I grow up I will get a C7 I enjoy the storytelling Thanks

[@ronrogers]

Thanks for watching!

[@Istandby666]

I was at Edwards from 1984 to 1992. I miss the Mojave desert from time to time.

[@Jims.Workshop]

Love your stories! Your crosswind limit story reminded me of something that happened when I was a KC-135 copilot flying ACE T-37s out of Blytheville, AR. A buddy of mine and I made a gas stop at Texarkana, AR during an ACE cross country. I don’t remember the exact runway lengths or orientation, but they had two crossing runways - a long one (well above Training Command mins for the T-37) and a “short” one that was about 5 feet (literally!) below the min length. The day we flew, the crosswind on the long runway was pretty significantly above Tweet limits, but it was PERFECTLY aligned with the “short” crossing runway. Easy decision, right? Land into a strong headwind rather than an out-of-limits crosswind! They parked us next to another T-37 with tail flash from one of the UPT bases (can’t remember which). We went inside to the snack bar for a burger and saw a couple of 1LT IPs in a booth eating their burgers, but didn’t greet them. One of them sauntered over to us and said hello, asked us where we were from, then asked us which runway we landed on. I figured there was no sense in lying, so I named the short one. He straightened up, all self-righteous, and said, “Well, isn’t that runway too short?” I said, “Yeah, by five feet…” Then he said, “Well, your pink, warm body is still here, so I guess it’s OK.” So, I asked him which runway HE landed on, and he named the long one. So I said, “Well, wasn’t the crosswind out of limits?” About that time his buddy piped up from his booth and said to the other IP, “Yeah, sure was! Maybe that’s why you couldn’t keep it on the runway!” So, I said, “Well, YOUR pink, warm body is still here, so I guess it’s OK!”. A$$hat…

[@carbonsnail014]

I used to see T38s on occasion at Plant 42 taking off in Palmdale.

[@180mph9]

You are so calm about it, but I can tell, you were having way too much fun. 🥳

[@ronrogers]

I was

[@gullywhumper7959]

Thanks for the stories Ron. Luv it. Luv your C7 as well. I have a yellow C6. My plate is SMKYB8T Take care..... Phil.....

[@ronrogers]

Thanks, you too!

[@Parkhill57]

Re: real-world vs test differences: got to fly the E-3 infrared tests (mostly over Kansas) with an EC-135 and it was confusing for the ATC controllers because we would flight-plan as a flight of two (formation). So the first test, our crew forgets to strangle the transponder and I guess we set off the conflict alarms. Sorted, then we would switch Center's and the 135 would check-in and we'd say "two!" confusing even more people. I guess the tests worked, because we never got shot down with an SA-7 flying out of Khartoum 😮

[@gejjamp]

The Systems Command regulation for the T-38A said in bold print "This regulation applies to all Systems Command Operations and Agencies except for the United States Test Pilot School, its staff and curriculum." This was in bold print in the middle of the first page in a highlighted block.

[@tymatt4555]

Great stories… dad flew Thuds. and didn’t talk much about it.

[@tomwilson1006]

Whoever owns a civilian T-38 wanna give Ron some stick time? That would be a great video!

[@tcrane8300]

It was fun jet. I flew the 38 at Columbus.AFB and in Lift in NM. It sure didn't like turn when performing BFM and heavily bluffed. Was a great looking little jet.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, but I could out turn an F-4 and that was fun!

[@gejjamp]

Tail number 135, 153, 154, and 205 were the DAS birds

[@jamesmurray3948]

You could decrab the T-38 in the flare just like we do with most airliners. Rudder to align and aileron to keep the upwind wing from raising.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, that's exactly what we do.

[@DWBurns]

Nice car. Very happy to hear you like the 727. That was the first plane I few on as a kid, first plane I did a flight dispatch release on and first plane I was a FE on. I moved on to the business jet airline but now all I do is fly my Arrow and drive my Camaro on clear days.

[@ronrogers]

Thanks for sharing.The arrow was my first high performance aircraft! Loved it!

[@DWBurns]

@@ronrogers My Arrow is the favorite at the airport. Fast and straight, very honest airplane, good for my 2 kids to learn to fly.

[@benbosma]

Vance 77-01. If you were after that and you remember the bronze statue of the fighter, pilot and the Minuteman. I was the guy posing as a fighter pilot while I was a casual student there in 1975. 77-01 graduated in October 1976. I wound up coming back to Vance as a tweet before transitioning to the F4, which was my first fighter

[@ronrogers]

I was class 74-07 but don't remember the statue. I was a FAIP and left in 77

[@benbosma]

@@ronrogers that sculpture was for the bicentennial. I was a student in A flight.

[@theflyingfool]

Great to see the subs coming up Ron! Nice video too, but the sound was a little (only a little) quiet.

[@rocket862]

Is that your 310? I love the 310-R! Also, the T-38.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, thanks.

[@geoffreymee7671]

Great insight to what must have been a great life in the USAF. And in the last shot, is that a Cessna 320? Thx for the flythrough.

[@ronrogers]

That is a 310. The 320 is similar and not many made although I have flown a 320, the Cessna type not the Airbus type, although I have flown that also.

[@geoffreymee7671]

@@ronrogers Thx Ron. Then that was a 310 I saw in Meekatharra Western Australia years ago. They were using it for aerial survey photography. We here using a Baron 56TC for the same purpose. The 56TC had a ceiling of over 25,000 ft, which we filmed at many times.

[@mviking39]

You have a great voice

[@ronrogers]

thanks!

[@arcranda]

Thanks for sharing these stories, Ron. Do you have PDF copies of the T-38 or T-37 manuals you'd be willing to share? -Andrew

[@ronrogers]

I do not, only my old paper copies but, I was able to find the T-38 Dash 1 online and I would imagine you could also find the T-37.

[@arcranda]

@@ronrogers Thanks - I'll have to look harder, my initial googling didn't turn it up. I'll have another look.

[@ronrogers]

www.avialogs.com/reader.php?jid=4983

[@68orangecrate26]

I think the area rule design of the F-5/T-38 makes it the most beautiful jet built. Now is the age of ugly stealth airplanes and boring paint schemes…

[@tomwilson1006]

So was “Rick” a full bird or higher? Lol

[@ronrogers]

Yes