Under the black and gold: Former Thunderbird pilot reunites with T-38 at Tyndall AFB

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Standing in the shadow of America’s premier 5th generation fighter aircraft would make any other aircraft pale in comparison, but one T-38 Talon at Tyndall Air Force Base hides a historical legacy.

Retired Lt. Col. Dale Cooke, a former United States Air Force Thunderbird pilot, traveled to Tyndall Air Force Base to reunite with the aircraft that served with him as a Thunderbird.

“The last time I saw this plane was 34 years ago when I flew it near Nellis Air Force Base in 1982,” Cooke said.

Cooke flew in the slot position between two wingmen and directly behind the leader during his assignment with the Thunderbirds and accumulated over 800 flight hours while traveling the country, logging over 200 performances during the regular show season from 1979-1982.

“It was one of the best times of my life,” Cooke said. “The pure joy of flying and being around other people who were striving for excellence, it was wonderful and I have lifelong friends from that experience.”

No longer painted in its Thunderbird legacy colors of red, white and blue, Aircraft #177 fulfills a different role within the 2nd Fighter Training Squadron as a world class air-to-air aggressor for F-22 Raptor student pilots. Repainted gloss black, the T-38 remains a versatile training tool for today’s 5th generation fighter aircraft.

From 1974-1982, the Thunderbird T-38s soared over millions of spectators nationwide and inspired generations of future pilots and service members.

“It flies against the Raptor every day, that’s a testament to the aircraft. It’s a strong little plane,” Cooke said.

Other than the new paint job, Aircraft #177 is the only remaining unmodified T-38A model still in its original Thunderbirds configuration.

The 2nd Fighter Training Squadron maintains the legacy of the aircraft as an original Thunderbirds decal is proudly displayed near the student pilot seat.

“They’re keeping the history; they know what they’ve got,” Cooke said. “Seeing that plane today in the great condition that it is in makes me very happy. Many times I’ve met people who told me they wanted to be in the Air Force because they saw the Thunderbirds fly.”

Aircraft #177 currently continues to provide reliable air-to-air challenges for new F-22 Raptor student pilots at Tyndall.

“When the time comes for this aircraft to retire, we would like to see it preserved for history and future generations of Americans in its original Thunderbirds colors,” Cooke said. “It’s only a small part of Thunderbird history but each one should have its place.”

Cooke retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. In 1982, the Thunderbirds switched from the T-38 to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which has carried the legacy torch well into today’s modern airshows and appearances across the country.

The USAF Thunderbirds are known for their precision aerial performances at airshows and national events. The attention to detail in their performances expands into the ground crew who also perform a synchronized routine before take-off and again during landing.