Comments on: Take flight, Grasshopper

By: Matthew Ota

Matthew Ota — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:31:33 +0000

Yes, partial pressurization in the Environmental Control system. That is why the pilots were wondering if hypoxia had settled in. I remember an altitude chamber run at Reese AFB in 1980 where I got a taste of hypoxia at a simulated altitude of 10,000 feet. Just like getting drunk.
But I declined to reenlist so I did not get my 20 minute joy ride. Left the USAF as a Sergeant…..after 4 years.

By: Bob Munck

Bob Munck — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:04:43 +0000

He took a duck in the face at two hundred and fifty knots.

By: LarianLeQuella

LarianLeQuella — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:44:56 +0000

This was a Standard USAF T-38 from Laughlin AFB, in Del Rio, TX. Since Pilot training has changed since I was there, the student (if it was indeed a student as opposed to a dual IP flight) was on the fighter/bomber track (since students going to “heavies” fly the T-1). Also, the T-38 only has a partial pressurization system. Pilots have to wear the mask to fly. (I can’t recall the pressurization rate, but “cabin” altitude is pretty much always over 10,000 feet.) He was inside the whole time (besides, at the speeds the T-38 goes, there is no way he could have hung on in the slip stream).

Any other questions I can answer? Remember, the last time I flew a T-38 was in the spring of 1994!

By: Mark Hansen

Mark Hansen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:37:16 +0000

Their debugging software needs some serious upgrading.

By: Michael L

Michael L — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:47:49 +0000

The T-38 also acts as a Shuttle pilot trainer. I wonder if this was a Shuttle Pilot?

By: Marcia

Marcia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:37:36 +0000

I put T-38 into wikipedia, and this was one of the results: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingsby_T.38_Grasshopper

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:13:46 +0000

I for one welcome our insect overlords, and as a respected person in the media I can help round up people to work in the sugar caves.