Warbird Information Exchange

Is that Perot Jr's plane?

The A/C now belongs to Perot Jr. and is flown by Matt Byrd who was Thunderbird 3 ( Right Wing ) in the 92-93 season.

Max Chapman had it restored by John Dilley at Fort Wayne Air Service and flew it for a couple of years before selling it.

It is the hotrod of T-38's as it has F-5 engines with about 20% more thrust than the stock 38 and a F-5 rear with drag chute.

One of my T37 IPs was an old T38 Thunderbird IP back in the day - he was a 25yr O5 sitting on retirement. He practically scared me whenever we did formation!

He told me the Thunderbird T38 also had the rudder limiter removed providing full deflection at all speeds (I think it was tied to gear, but it's been over 15yrs, so can't remember)

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Daddy always said, "If yer gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough" and I'm one tough sonofagun!

There are two bars that stick out behind the rudder pedals when the gear is up which limit rudder travel.

That is one of the FCF checks in the '38...to be going balls out full throttle and push one rudder all the way to the floor to "see if" the limiter is working.

I've done some "crazy" stuff during FCFs, but that one has to be right up there. If it wasn't working, you'd have a helluva ride!

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Daddy always said, "If yer gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough" and I'm one tough sonofagun!