September 2006
Located at Thunderbird Overlook near the USAF Academy Airfield is this former Thunderbird aircraft that was donated to the Academy in 1973. In 1974 the Thunderbirds switched to the more fuel efficient T-38 Talon. Five T-38s used the same amount of fuel needed for one F-4 Phantom. The switch to the T-38 also saw an alteration of the flight routine to exhibit the aircraft’s maneuverability, and also ended the era of the black tail on the No. 4 slot plane. In January 1982, a catastrophic team training accident brought about the Thunderbirds reconstitution with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Panasonic DMC-FZ30.