AN APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE THE T-38 TO MEET BETS REQUIREMENTS

THE USAF TRAINER MASTERPLAN DEVELOPED SHORTAND LONG-TERM STRATIGIES FOR MEETING CURRENT AND FUTURE UNDERGRADUATE PILOT TRAINING (UPT) REQUIREMENTS. ONE ELEMENT OF THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPEMENT OF A RECONNAISSANCE-ATTACK-FIGHTER SYSTEM (BFTS) AIRCRAFT TOREPLACE THE T-38 IN THE 2005 TIMEFRAME. STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO INVESTIGATE AIRCRAFT ALTERNATIVES WHICH HAVE RANGED FROM NEW SUBSONIC AND NEW SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT, TO VARIATIONS OF EXISTING FIGHTERS AND TRAINERS MODIFIED TO MEET BFTS REQUIREMENTS. THISPROPOSAL SUGGESTS THAT A VIABLE OPTION HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED AS A BFTS CANDIDATE -AN ENHANCED AND LIFE EXTENDED T-38A, HEREIN CALLED THE T-38X. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO STUDY OPTIONS IN THE REVELANT AREAS SUCH AS STRUCTURES, AERODYNAMICS, PROPULSION, AVIONICS, ETC. WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE CURRENT T-38A DEFICIENCIES AND ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO MEET, TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE, THE BFTS RREQUIREMENTS.