[Oztrich Boy]

If they were smart, they would just build new T-38s, with newer engines, updated electronics, beefed up airframe to 9Gs, air refuleing, and basic weapons delivery.

Would also need a bigger wing, fly-by-wire to meet the manouverabilty requirement.

You really that into nostalgia?

[DAC21]

I thought this issue came up a couple of months ago, with some Brazilian firm being given the contract for new Trainers which caused a big stink. Was that a different branch of the Service?

[oldbill]

You don’t understand the issue.

It is not an upgrade - it would be a new-from-the-factory airframe.

It does not need to be fly-by-wire and does not need the maneuverability of a fighter - it’s a trainer. It teaches pilots how to fly, not how to dogfight, an advanced skill set. It focuses on essential skills to be an aviator, instruments, formation, acrobatics, high AOA handling and swept-wing approach and landings.

It is not an F-20. It needs to be a two seat aircraft to accommodate an instructor.

It does not require a full weapons suite. The only reason a limited weapons capability is required in the new trainer is that the F-22 and F-35s are too few and too expensive to accommodate all the weapons system initial skills training that was part of all fighter syllabus in the past (F-4, F-16, F-105, F-15). So they want to offload it on the end of the pilot training program.

Nostalgia? That’s what the Air Force did when it replaced the jet T-37 with a prop trainer.