Although the USAF's T-39s have long since been retired, the USN continues to fly the Sabreliner. The T-39N is based on the commercial Sabreliner 265-40, and is used for radar navigation and intercept training, using the APG-66NT radar. T-39N N305NT (BuNo 166513) is seen here at Dayton in July 1998. Sabreliner originally supplied the aircraft and pilots to the USN, but the T-39Ns were later bought outright by the Navy.
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| USN T-39 on static display at the 1998 Dayton Air Show |
At least one radiometer-equipped USAF T-39A was flown against secretly acquired MiG-17s and a
MiG-21, measuring the Soviet fighters' infrared signatures. One Sabreliner had the mission equipment in a prominent dorsal fairing, while the other had a fuselage-mounted system.
Sabreliner Bibliography
Magazine Articles and Photos:
William S. Reed "Sabreliner Shows Fighter-Like Handling, Performance"
Aviation Week & Space Technology June 5, 1961 p.54-57 three photos.
"North American T-39D Evaluated"
Naval Aviation News May 1963 p.6 two photos.
Photos (2): "USAF T-39 Readied for Recovery Tests"
Aviation Week & Space Technology January 1, 1968 p.82
Photo: T-39B
Air Force May 1999 p.26
Sabreliner used by Lockheed Martin to test the seeker for the JAGM missile
