Hobby Master 1/72 HA5405 Northrop T-38 Talon NASA 901, Ellington Feild, Texas, 1960's

The first prototype of what would become the Northrop T-38 Talon and F-5 Freedom Fighters flew on April 10, 1959. The first Talon entered service on March 17, 1961 at Randolph AFB. The USAF and NASA used the Talon to help their pilots maintain their proficiency. NASA especially liked the T-38 for its much lower operating and maintenance costs compared to the F-18 they had tried. Because of the low cost to operate the T-38 the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team used them from 1974 - 1983 during the OPEC oil embargo.
Northrop T-38 Talon NASA 901 MSN 5528 AF serial 63-8181 was used by astronauts for travel and as chase aircraft. On February 28, 1966 NASA 901 piloted by Commander E. See Jr. and rear seat Captain C. Bassett Jr. along with another T-38 NASA 907 departed Ellington, Texas for St. Louis, Missouri. The destination was low broken clouds, rain, snow and fog. NASA 901 pilot realized he was too high to land so he did a visual go-around but struck the McDonnell Aircraft building killing both on board.