T-38 Talon Aircraft Flag (Shadow – grayscale)
T-38 Talon Flag (Shadow) | Supersonic Trainer Aircraft Tribute
Honor the T-38 Talon with this shadow-style flag. Featuring a grayscale silhouette, this 36″ x 60″ polyester flag made by Custom Flag Nation highlights the sleek design of this supersonic trainer used by the U.S. Air Force. Built for aviation enthusiasts and collectors, this flag includes reinforced metal grommets for secure display.
• 100% polyester
• Knitted fabric
• Fabric weight: 4.42 oz/yd² (150 g/m²)
• Print on one side
• Blank reverse side
• 2 metal grommets
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Aircraft Description and History: T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a legendary twin-engine, supersonic jet trainer that has prepared generations of military aviators for flight. Since its introduction in the early 1960s, the T-38 has been the primary advanced jet trainer for the United States Air Force, shaping the skills and instincts of countless fighter and bomber pilots who would go on to fly the world’s most sophisticated aircraft. Known for its sleek design and unmatched reliability, the Talon remains a symbol of precision, performance, and the timeless pursuit of aviation excellence.
First flown on March 10, 1959, and officially entering service in 1961, the T-38 was the world’s first supersonic trainer aircraft. Designed by Northrop, it was derived from the lightweight F-5 Freedom Fighter concept, emphasizing simplicity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. With its streamlined fuselage, thin wings, and tandem-seat configuration, the Talon delivers both performance and training flexibility. Its two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines allow it to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.3 and altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet, giving student pilots their first taste of supersonic flight.
Over its six decades of service, the T-38 has trained more than 80,000 pilots in the United States and allied air forces. Nearly every USAF pilot since the 1960s—especially those selected for fighter and bomber assignments—has logged significant flight hours in the Talon. The aircraft’s agility and high performance teach pilots the demanding skills required for front-line jets like the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and B-2 Spirit.
The T-38 is used primarily by the U.S. Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command (AETC), but it also serves critical support roles elsewhere. The Air Force Test Pilot School uses it to train experimental and developmental test pilots, while NASA employs a fleet of modified T-38N Talons for astronaut proficiency flights and transportation. These NASA Talons, easily recognizable by their white and blue paint schemes, are often seen flying alongside T-38s from the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB and the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB.
The aircraft has undergone several upgrades over its long career, including the T-38A, T-38B, and T-38C variants. The “C” model, equipped with modernized avionics, structural reinforcements, and a glass cockpit, ensures the aircraft remains viable for training well into the 2030s. Its successor, the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk, is beginning to enter production, but the T-38 continues to hold a special place in aviation history as one of the longest-serving and most beloved aircraft in the U.S. inventory.
Lightweight, elegant, and durable, the T-38 Talon represents the perfect balance of form and function. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable—a reminder of the skill, discipline, and courage that define every pilot who has taken flight in its cockpit. More than a trainer, the Talon is a symbol of the journey from student to aviator—a timeless icon of American airpower.
