Request help on ID T-38C

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Joostmil
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Request help on ID T-38C

Post by Joostmil »

Anyone able to help me out on this one: October 2nd 2023 I saw this T-38C at Randolph AFB seemingly 63-8194, however that airframe (according several sources) was written off long time ago (1974). What ID can this one be? Personally I think possibly 64-13194.

Thanks for any help!

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VH3D
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Re: Request help on ID T-38C

Post by VH3D »

In Scramble database you can find it as 64-13194 ex Republic of China Air Force 3824
Joostmil
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Re: Request help on ID T-38C

Post by Joostmil »

Yeah I know I did my homework but on the tail it says 63-194… so any confirmation of its ID is requested.
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Sjoerd
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Re: Request help on ID T-38C

Post by Sjoerd »

I also cannot find any records of any other active T-38 with xx194, although some xx194 had been passed on to the US Navy and receiving different serials.

https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1964.html

So perhaps a painters mistake? It wouldn't be the first. As per the late Joe Baugher, 64-13194 (the 3 mistakenly used as FY?) returned to the 71st FTW in 2003. However Scramble has a later record of it in March 2022 confirming the RA code and 435th FS. By then it was in the standard 2 tone grey scheme. So very likely this is your bird and after the new blue coat they applied the serial incorrectly.

Still not 100% unless you read the datablock.
-Good intell, allows for good decision making!-
VH3D
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Re: Request help on ID T-38C

Post by VH3D »

Also checked with my other source and it says it is 64-13194.
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Re: Request help on ID T-38C

Post by tally »

You might be able to zoom in on your original picture and look at the bottom of the fuselage near where the wing leading edge starts near the wing root. It should have a data block with the correct tail number.
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