UPDATE: LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – One pilot was killed and two pilots injured during a mishap involving two T-38C Talon trainer aircraft here at approximately 10:00 a.m. Nov. 19.

One of the injured pilots was transported to Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas, where they were treated and released.

The other pilot is in critical condition and was evacuated by air to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

“Losing teammates is unbelievably painful and it is with a heavy heart I express my sincere condolences,” said Col. Craig Prather, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. “Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with our pilots involved in this mishap and their families.” The names of all the pilots involved are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification has been made. An investigation into the mishap is still ongoing. 

Previous release: One pilot was killed and two pilots injured during a mishap involving two T-38C Talon trainer aircraft here at approximately 10:00 a.m. Nov. 19. One of the injured pilots was transported to Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas, where they were treated and released. The other pilot is in critical condition and was evacuated by air to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. “

T-38 Talon

Mission 
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. Air Education and Training Command is the primary user of the T-38 for joint specialized undergraduate pilot training. Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration also use the T-38A in various roles.

Features
The T-38 has swept wings, a streamlined fuselage and tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems power the ailerons, rudder and other flight control surfaces. Critical aircraft components are waist high and can be easily reached by maintenance crews.

The T-38C incorporates a “glass cockpit” with integrated avionics displays, head-up display and an electronic “no drop bomb” scoring system. The AT-38B has a gun sight and practice bomb dispenser.

The T-38 needs as little as 2,300 feet (695.2 meters) of runway to take off and can climb from sea level to nearly 30,000 feet (9,068 meters) in one minute. T-38s modified by the propulsion modernization program have approximately 19 percent more thrust, reducing takeoff distance by 9 percent.

The instructor and student sit in tandem on rocket-powered ejection seats in a pressurized, air-conditioned cockpit.