The T-38 is a supersonic jet trainer and was the worlds first and most produced supersonic trainer. It was manufactured by Northrop Corporation and designed by Edgar Schmued. The T-38 was designed in the mid 1950s as the trainer variant of a lightweight fighter project by the Northrop Corporation. On March 17, 1961, the T-38 officially entered service with the USAF, complementing the T-37 primary jet trainer. There were 1,187 T-38s built when production ended in 1972. Since the time T-38s were produced, theres an estimated 50,000 military pilots who have trained on the aircraft. The USAF remained one of the few armed flying forces using dedicated supersonic final trainers. The T-38A was the most built variant of the T-38 and several T-38s were converted for weapons training. The T-38C is based from the T-38A with structural and avionics upgrades. In 2003, there were still 562 T-38s operational with the USAF and are currently undergoing structural and avionics programs for extended service life to 2020. Other operators of T-8 are the German Luftwaffe, the Portuguese Air Force, the Republic of China Air Force, the Turkish Air Force and the US Navy. NASA also uses the plane as a jet trainer for its astronauts. Dimensions: 11.25"L x 5"W x 5"H