The F-5 and T-38 are physically substantially different aircraft. They both originated from the same prototype aircraft, but are somewhere between being fraternal twins and identical twins (I believe the FAA considers them different type ratings, but can issue types for both based on experience in one of them based on their similarity in systems and flying performance).
The physical areas of difference are the nose, intakes, wing, and "boat-tail".
Nose: The F-5 has a flat platypus-type nose with a radar, and a cockpit that sits further aft than the T-38; The T-38 has a rounded nose (no radar) and cockpits that sit further forward (the F-5 cockpit is about the same location as the rear cockpit in a T-38).
Intakes: F-5s have larger squared-off intakes with a splitter plate; T-38s have either the small round/angled intakes (on the non-PMP jets) or large oval-shaped intakes (NASA and PMP jets).
Wing: F-5s have leading edge root extensions, and slats (T-38s have neither). F-5s have wingtip missile rails with a wing spar that goes all the way out to the tip; T-38s have spars that stop about 18" short of the wingtip and no missile rails. The F-5 wing also has bigger wheel wells, as the F-5 has larger wheels/tires with an antiskid brake stack when compared to the T-38.
Boat-tail: F-5s have slatted vents for the compressor bleed valves, T-38s have an open oval-shaped port (the F-5 has bigger engines, and thus a different bleed valve configuration). F-5s have brake chutes at the base of the tail; T-38s do not. F-5s have a tailhook under the boat-tail, T-38s do not.
There are numerous other minor differences, too.
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ellice_island_kid wrote:
I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.
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This helps alot!