NASA T-38 Talon

Hello,

I'm not sure if this helps...I have a brochure I picked up at one of the space museums I have visited over the years, I'm afraid I don't recall which, either Houston or Cape Canaveral I suspect.

Anyway, the brochure depicts a series of  paintings called " Pushing the Limits". As it happens, the artist, William S Phillips had done a painting in the series that shows the very scene you described here in your letter. The painting is called "The Right Stuff on Final" The tail number of the Talon ( I collect models of them ) to the right or starboard side of the shuttle is # 912.

I can't say if this is just coincidence, or if this artist knew " the right stuff" :) or that this painting represents a glide test or an actual landing..

At any rate..If you have a chance you could try checking out this website, it was printed on the above mentioned literature:        http://www.nasa.gov/gallery/arts   there are some pretty amazing paintings in that series if you are a real space, space buff!

Good Luck

Dave Rogers

Dave is correct, 900 numbers were the NASA designators during the shuttle hey-day, for Dryden, Aka Edwards.  (I worked at Ames Research Center and our numbers were 700 series.)  800 series were Houston, 500 were Langley  and so forth...  All the centers had a T-38 for recurrentcy/pilot proficency training.  Our T-38 bore the number 717.  The actual number was not significant and would  be rotated amoungst the center's aircraft when they were retired. Hence 717 might go to one of the centers Lear Jets after the T-38 was retired.

Be sure to post some pics when you are done!

Best regards,

Chuck

NASA has full resolution images on their websites...have you looked there?

I have looked on the NASA site and there are pictures but the resolution is not that good.  I will be sure to post some pictures when I ever get time to finish this.

Thanks all.