North American T-39 Sabreliner

by Tom Hildreth

The first of 143 T-39A Sabreliners was delivered to the Air Force on 4 June 1961. Designed to meet USAF's requests for proposals for a utility trainer experimental under the "UTX" program, the prototype flew for the first time on 16 September 1958. The prototype was powered by General Electric J-85 engines, but production versions of the T-39 were powered by Pratt & Whitney J-60 turbojets. Many Air Force commands used the T-39, and it saw extensive service in Southeast Asia on "Scatback" missions.

Click the photo below for large version


T-39A 61-0635 was assigned to
HQ 8th AF at Westover AFB, MA
19 Oct 1963
HOME
EMAIL Tom Hildreth