Tyndall receives T-38 Talons Published Oct. 6, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Christopher Reel 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE -- Two T-38 Talons arrived from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico Oct. 6, to begin their next chapter supporting aerial training for F-22 Raptor pilots. T-38s from around the globe will go through Holloman AFB to be refurbished prior to being distributed back into the operational field. Holloman AFB is the only location in Air Combat Command to provide intermediate and organizational maintenance for the T-38 aircraft and bring them back to operational status. The T-38 Talon is a highly-marketable aircraft due to its economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. "These aircraft are very cost effective, compared to other aircraft used for training, such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon," said Lt. Col. Glen Richards, 325th Fighter Wing program integration officer. "We can get many good years out of these jets at the fraction of the cost before having to resort to a more expensive alternative." Prior to the arrival of the T-38s, the F-22s have had been training in advanced simulators and against themselves acting as an aggressor during training sorties. "Half of the F-22 pilots aren't training to the standards that we would prefer for combat training since half are replicating enemy aircraft ," said Lt. Col. Ronald Miller, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group command deputy. "The T-38s will provide higher standards of training for all of the F-22 pilots." "Using the F-22 to replicate the bad guy isn't the most efficient means of resources," said Colonel Richards. "We would rather use F-22 flying hours to train students instead of play the role of bad guys." "It is all about combat preparations," added Colonel Miller. "We fight like we train. They are here to support our mission and able to do so while saving the tax payer dollars." The T-38 has less complex, less tactical, oriented systems which have different missions and different requirements. "Although these are older aircraft, they are structurally sound and maintained routinely," said Colonel Richards. "Safety is paramount in the Air Force," Colonel Miller added. "We take the precautions to make sure these aircraft meet the most excellence of standards." M-1 contracting service will provide approximately 15 civilian contractors to maintain these standards, as well as launch and receive the T-38s. These two aircraft are the first of 20 T-38s that Tyndall will receive over the course of the next two fiscal years.