The Museum’s newest aircraft, the Northrop T-38N Talon, was hoisted to Intrepid’s flight deck in front of a crowd of special guests Wednesday morning!

The Talon was designed in the mid-1950s for the U.S. Air Force, which wanted a new supersonic jet trainer. The Northrop Corporation (now Northrop Grumman) demonstrated that a smaller design, using two small jet engines, was more economical than the larger types produced by other manufacturers. The resulting T-38A Talon met the needs of the U.S. Air Force and went into service in 1961—it still serves today.

The particular Talon joining our collection has a special connection to the Museum. It was used as a flight-test chase plane during the crucial Approach and Landing Tests carried out in 1977 by the space shuttle orbiter Enterprise, currently on display in the Space Shuttle Pavilion.

We’d like to thank a few very special supporters and guests for making this day possible: Charles and Nathalie de Gunzburg; Ed and Candi Aversenti from General Magnaplate; Elizabeth Benjamin from the New York City Department of Education; William Sharples and John Cerone from SHoP Architects; Fiona Higgins; and Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut and the Museum’s senior advisor for space programs.

The Talon is now on display at the Intrepid Museum. Book your tickets now to visit!