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|---|---|---|---|
| Description | |||
| Manufacturer: | North American | ||
| Designation: | CT-39 | ||
| Version: | A | ||
| Nickname: | Sabreliner | ||
| Type: | Trainer & Utility Transport | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 44' | 13.41 M | |
| Height: | 16' | 4.88 M | |
| Wingspan: | 44' 6" | 13.56 M | |
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney J60-P-3 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 3000 | 1360 | |
| Performance | |||
| Range: | 2100 miles | 3381.00 Km | |
| Max Speed: | 563.00 Mph | 906.00 Km/H | 489.73 Kt |
The T-39 was based on the Rockwell Sabreliner 40 commercial aircraft. Air Force and Navy T-39's were equipped with radar and LORAN navigational equipment and used to train navigators and F-105 aircrews. The T-39 was originally designed to meet the USAF "UTX" requirement for a combat readiness trainer, as a fast transport ,and as a utility aircraft. Tactical Air Command had six B models equipped with a Doppler Navigation System and NASARR all weather search and range radar as installed in the F-105 Thunderchief. The Navy used 36 D models for maritime radar indoctrination training.
The museum's CT-39A, serial number 62-4465, was the command aircraft of the late General Gerald O'Malley, commanding officer of the Tactical Air Command. The museum's T-39 was removed from the Air Force inventory and flown to the museum at March Air Force Base in May 1985. General O'Malley was killed in a landing crash of another T-39 in Scranton, PA, in 1986. This aircraft is on loan from the USAF.
The dates and specific history of our CT-39A are given below.
T-39A, s/n 62-4465, was manufactured by North American Aviation, Inglewood CA and delivered to the USAF on 2 Apr 1963. Its assignments were:
Apr 1963 - To 6550th Support Wing (AFSC), Patrick AFX FL
May 1964 - To 3245th Air Base Wing (AFSC), Hanscom AFB MA
Jun 1973 - To North American, Los Angeles CA
Sep 1973 - To 6590th Support Squadron (AFSC), Andrews AFB MD
Oct 1973 - To Air Proving Ground Center (AFSC), Eglin AFB FL
Jun 1975 - To 1st Composite Wing (MAC), Andrews AFB MD
Jul 1975 - To 89th Military Airlift (Special Missions) Wing (MAC), Andrews AFB MD
Jun 1977 - To 4950th Test Wing (AFSC), Wright-Patterson AFB OH (to CT-39A)
Mar 1978 - To 1402nd Military Airlift Squadron (MAC), Andrews AFB MD (deployed to Peterson AFB C0)
Oct 1978 - Unit moved to Langley AFB VA (joint operations with 89th Military Airlift (SM) Group, Andrews AFB MD)
May 1985 - Dropped from inventory by transfer to museum or school
According to Archie Difante, Archivist at the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRS/RSA), Maxwell AFB, AL, the total flight hours for this aircraft is 16,507.1 hours.
