T-38s

NASA has a fleet of T-38 training jets the astronauts use for flight proficiency and also transportation. Pilot astronauts and mission specialist astronauts who are already qualified military jet pilots when they come to NASA get to fly the aircraft. Other mission specialists and all payload specialists fly in the back seats. Dave Brown and Mike Anderson were among the handful of mission specialists qualified to pilot the T-38s.

Rick Husband
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30470 Rick T-38.jpg		 Willie McCool
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30465 Willie T-38.jpg		 Dave Brown
Thumbnail for 02pd1919 Dave T-38.jpg		 Kalpana Chawla
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30471 KC T-38.jpg		 The STS-107 crew poses with a T-38 at the Johnson Space Center
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30459 crew w T-38 JSC.jpg
Laurel Clark
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30468 Laurel T-38.jpg		 Ilan Ramon
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30462 Ilan T-38.jpg		 Dave and Ilan
Thumbnail for jsc2002e30460 Dave Brown Ilan Ramon T-38.jpg		 Mike and K.C.
Thumbnail for 02pd1924 Mike & KC w T-38s.jpg		 The STS-107 crew poses with a T-38 at the Kennedy Space Center
Thumbnail for 02pd1916 crew w T-38 KSC.jpg

Thumbnail for 02pd2066 T-38 McCool.jpeg Thumbnail for T38_Moon7.jpg Willie McCool took this unusual self-portrait inside the cockpit of his T-38. Another T-38 can be seen in the reflection in his visor.

Of all of the photos Dave Brown took, his favorite was this photo, shot from his T-38. It shows another T-38, piloted by legendary astronaut John Young with Laurel Clark in the back seat and the moon.

Dave Brown T-38 photo courtesy of the Brown family. Other photos from NASA.

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