My father was an instructor in T-37s at Vance AFB in the early 60's. When I was young I had a chance to sit in one of the sims at Vance. Boy do I wish I could do so now that I am a pilot and actually have an idea of what I am doing.
Milton Moore, e-mail, 03.06.2017 00:05
I was stationed at Randolph AFB, TX in 1969. The Director of AF Personnel lived in my neighborhood and got me an assignment in the A-37B to Bien Hoa Air Base, S. Vietnam. I flew 341 missions in my year there. The best were "Troops in Contact." The A-37 carried as much ordinance as the F-100. It could also do inflight refueling. I also flew the F-100 and F-104 earlier in my carrier.
Frank Smith, e-mail, 14.09.2016 12:57
Finished out the last T-33 class at Webb AFB as an IP and was sent down to instruct in the "Tweet". Ended up with 320 plus T-37 hours as an IP and finally got out ATC after almost twelve years! Went to Alaska's 317th FIS flying F-102's and back to Perrin AFB AS AN IP! in the Duece. Flew T-28D-5 with the Royal Thai AF. Retired at Tyndall AFB in '73...yep, as an IP in T-Birds! Big benefit of all the IP time was I retired with over 5,000 hours of T-33, T-28 (A and D), T-37 And F-102's
webb AFB
Abbye A Faurot, e-mail, 14.03.2015 08:17
Billy K Faurot, 91, was an instructor at Bainbridge GA and was honored by being assigned the first class of cadets to fly the T37. I would really like to have a picture of the plane to go with all the other planes we flew. B17 pilot in WWII in 8th AF at Knettishall, Norfolk, UK
Steve Laurance, e-mail, 08.02.2015 21:58
The Tweet was the first airplane I flew. I was in class 65H at Reese AFB. The noise was terrible but the airplane was a pleasure to fly. The A-37 must have been a big improvement because of the increased power.
Ollie Maier, e-mail, 09.01.2015 20:48
In response to Abe's comment,forgot to mention in previous message that we could stay on target much longer than most other jet fighters. Could shut one engine down to save fuel so sometimes had two hour missions. As funny as it seems, we could hold with one engine shut down at 10,000 will full fuel and bomb load using less fuel per hour (1,100/pph) then at idle on the ground with both engines running (600/pph each engine)...
Olllie Maier, e-mail, 09.01.2015 20:10
Flew 502 combat missions with the initial group testing the A-37A during 1967-1968. Great Close Air Support weapon. Both FACs and troops on ground in firefights loved us. Enjoyed flying it much more than F-84F and F-100 fighters Another pilot and I started the A-37 Association which has reunions every two years for anyone who flew, worked on, worked with, or has high admiration for great little fighter. Check A-37.org for more info. Recently published was a 350 page, 9 by 11" book on the little fighter with stories from those who were involved with it.,, primarily in 'Nam where it flew about 100,000 combat missions. Again, check A-37 for more info or email me at OMaier@TxState.edu. I also have over 2,000 hours in the T-37 as UPT and PIT instructor... great side by side trainer... think AF made mistake by going to turbo-prop trainer instead...
Abe, e-mail, 11.12.2014 15:25
It's incredible. I can't believe that you can write this type of information and leaving out one of the most important features of this jet, the fuel capacity, and it's a shame most web pages about this aircraft fail to specify the amount of fuel used..
Lon Holtz, e-mail, 16.11.2013 01:14
Had the privilege of logging 350 combat missions in the A-37a with the third group of pilots in Vietnam. It was a true pilot aircraft that produced exceptional Closer Air Support and saved countless lives in Troops In Contact engagements with the uncanny accuracy of less then 45 feet from any delivery angle. Its small size and lower then other fighter delivery speeds our survibility rate was extremely high with only 11 aircraft lost to enemy actions out of over 100,000 sorties flown in three squadrons. We rapidly went from novelty status to the favorite of Forward Air Controllers and ground commanders as we could go further stay longer and put the bombs exactly where needed.
Jarvis H "Flip" Latham, e-mail, 23.10.2013 22:19
Flew the T-37 at Bainbridge in Class 59-G. Ours was, I believe, the first regular Primary class to use the bird. Class 59-D at Bainbridge also flew the T-37, but they were a "Test" class with the designation "Project Palm." My civilian instructor was Sam Weil, one of the best instructors I had. I graduated from pilot training with 59H at Greenville, Miss. Went from there to B-47s at Lincoln AFB.
Julio Torres, e-mail, 10.07.2013 19:57
Flew it at Bainbridge AB, Georgia Class 60C end of 1958 as Aviation Cadet of the Venezuelan Air Force, remember at that time there was a crew, instructor and student, had to eject as they went into an inverted spin.
Kara Mcghee, e-mail, 25.12.2012 02:16
Does anyone know where I can get a clock from one of these?
Dick Conan, e-mail, 19.10.2012 01:21
To Bob Insel et al: I was in class 60-E pre-flight and had planned a career in the A.F. Things were going well... I was the Cadet Group Commander for Red Birds (Pilots) under Lt. Hayes (the Shadow.) Two weeks before going to Marianna, Florida, the Flt Surgeon found out I had arrythmia (heart palpitations and was "zapped" on a medical. It broke my heart and I still think... "What if?" Our class was told we would be the first to fly the T-37 and the Northrop T-39, but maybe they lied. Anyway, if there are any Class 60-Echo men out there, please drop me a line. So many of our men lost their lives in Vietnam and in accidents. William "Smitty" Smith and Wayne Ensminger both died soon after graduation. Anyone out there know them?
Bob Insel, e-mail, 20.06.2012 01:42
Our cadet class,59-G, were going to be the first class to get the T-37,at Graham Air Base, however, there was not enough available. Class 59-H were the lucky ones. I washed out at the end primary. I sure would like to hear from any one from class 59-G or for that matter, any cadet class.
Keith Barney, e-mail, 02.06.2012 20:14
As a weapons mechanic I went from F-4s to A-37s to B-52s, hat a ride! The Tweet was definitely the easiest to work on as long as you didn't mind walking on your knees a lot. I was at Bien Hoa and Pleiku with the 604th, 7/67 to 7/68 through Tet and the around the clock endurance test. Great little weapons platform.
Charlie Bryant, e-mail, 09.05.2012 23:29
I deployed with the first group of
I was NCOIC of the Nav Aids section deployed on Combat Dragon in Feb '67 to England AFB, Lousiana then to Bien Hoa, South Viet Nam where we provided maintenance support for the A-37A during combat evaluations for the aircraft. It was a great experience with many many memories.
Andy, e-mail, 14.01.2012 20:42
Long time ago. I was in (I think) technitions squadron. I worked on the ejection seats in the a37's. I was ALL alone and used to take the comm-nav guy to help me out. (Damn the rules!)
John Whistler, e-mail, 12.01.2012 03:26
I flew the 37's in the 604th 67-68 also F-100'S. The Tweet for 200 combat missions. Grest little bomber down in the trees with the troops on the ground, they always were happy to have us around in tight spots. It was easy to service and turn around for the next mission.
dick gruber, 07.01.2012 01:07
Flew 252 missions in the A-37 in '69/'70 Vietnam war...very effective close air support aircraft. We were able to pretty well "pin-point" our ordinance delivery, because our bomb,nap and rocket release altitudes were set for optimal low level accuracy...great airplane.Also great number of men in the 604th.
Robert, e-mail, 23.12.2011 17:29
I worked on the A-37B as a munitions loader/maintenance tech, 1972-77, at Youngstown Air Reserve Base, Vienna, Ohio. 910SOG. Got to fly right seat on a few deployments to Grissom for weapons range training. What a thrill ride for a non-pilot!
warren hester, e-mail, 25.10.2011 23:03
I flew the tweet in 1958-59 with class 61A after my time in the t34 Great times as an Air Force Cadet. one of the last classes through Bainbridge Loved performing the spins, always kept my barf bag close at hand. Unfortunately The T37 was my last jet ride as I got washed out on a medical just before graduation
Kent McInnis, e-mail, 28.09.2011 20:22
I was both a student and IP in T-37s at Laredo AFB. I loved to do spins and recovery from them. I remember a colonel telling our group, that in recovering from a spin, abrupt forward movement of the stick was essential. The HSI was our target. "If you break the HSI," he told us, "I'll buy you a keg of beer." So while I was at Randolph AFB in IP School in 1971, two pilots doing spin rides tried to break the HSI during a spin recovery. They failed, of course, but did manage to break the control stick from its base. Nobody died, but it grounded the whole T-37 fleet for about a week. It adds a new layer of meaning to saying, "I've got the stick."
Sarwar Uddin, e-mail, 05.09.2011 10:09
Any body have any information about any Company / Repair station who can able to overhaul T-37 A / B Aircraft's ???
Really appreciate , since I like to overhaul some T-37 Aircraft . Thanks
Dave Doeing, e-mail, 25.08.2011 06:24
Was at England A.F.B. from Nov.69 to Jan.72. Worked the flight line as engine mech.Great plane and alot of fun to work on.
Tom Parrish, e-mail, 23.07.2011 18:49
I loved flying this airplane. I flew it at Graham AB in 1959 Class 60 Golf. It was a real cool ride but the spin was something else. Kick opposite rudder and "Pop" the stick forward........I think, LOL
Tom Parrish, e-mail, 03.06.2011 01:12
Flew the Tweet for about 100 hr's at Graham A.B. 1959, Class 60-G. Sweet airplane.......loved the inverted spin!
Jon Shafer, e-mail, 20.05.2011 14:50
Because of several accidents while practicing spins, Air Training Command required each T-37 Instructor to go through spin qualification/certification.
I became Stan Board's spin qualification Instructor for our Squadron. Entries into erect, inverted and accelerated spins were practiced and demonstrated. Rudder and aleron only recoveries were demonstrated and practiced.
Many Instructors were intimadated by the spin. After our qualification program they were much more confident.
However, it was later determined that some of the older T-37's were so "out of rig" that they were unrecoverable from a spin, so any spinning was untimately prohibited.
Jon Shafer, e-mail, 20.05.2011 14:26
I flew the T-37 as a student and instructor. You have an error in your description of the the T-37. The T-37 was never a Basic Trainer. It was used in primary training only. In the late 50's and early 60's the T-33 and later the T-38 were used in Basic Training.
Bob Carey, e-mail, 20.01.2011 18:40
Flew this plane in Bainbridge Ga. as a part of my training with Class 61C. Still have great memories of this plane.
Jim Jauch, e-mail, 16.12.2010 06:06
I was a crew chief on the T-37 at Laughlin AFB,TX in 1963. IT was a great plane to work on. I still have my training manuals.
Harley, e-mail, 02.12.2010 04:21
You haven't spun this puppy until you've done a night inverted spin.
Harry Brodock, e-mail, 22.11.2010 23:33
Flew the 6000 pound dog-whistle at Webb on 1968. Went on to Nam in 1970 as a FAC. The VNAF saved my butt several times over a 'country-to-the-west'. Memorable about the bird was when they kept blowing tires on takeoff. It seems that when you held the brakes and powered up the J-85s, the tires would rotate on the hubs and go flat. They ended up drilling holes in the hubs adn screwing the tires to the hubs. Kept them inflated.
Milton Moore, e-mail, 06.11.2010 21:37
I flew 341 missions in Vietnam with the 604th and 8th SOS in 69-70. I was the active duty AF Advisor to the 917th Tac Ftr Group (AF Reserve) from 76 to 79. The A-37 was the easiest and best fighter I ever flew and the FACs loved us because we could stay on target and deliver low and slow and accurately. We carried as big a load as the F-100 (which I flew right out of pilot training). The side by side seating was great for us IPs.
Mike Conner, e-mail, 26.10.2010 23:51
I was the Egress Shop Chief with the 110thTASGp ANG Battle Creek, MI for 10 years on the A-37B. The dragonfly ended up with a rocket assisted Ejection Seat in the mid eighties. In some cases it was a bitch to work on but at least you didn't need a ladder! It was fast and fun to ride in.
Ken Orton, e-mail, 20.10.2010 02:12
Nice little 1st jet trainer. Spins were a real trip. Went through Reese class 70-07. The 6,000 pound dog whistle. Later while living on base at Williams AFB we dreaded the night flights because while taxiing it totally drowned out the TV.
Ollie Maier, e-mail, 29.08.2010 14:09
As a former IP in the T-37 for a number of years and having over 500 combat missions in the A-37 in 'Nam, I thought both aircraft were great for their missions. In 'Nam, I feel almost all, if not all, the FACs and the troops on the ground loved us as with the great little bird we could get down to where the action was, accurately hit the targets (especially when troops in contact and we helped save many lives), and we could stay around for a couple of hours, often flying on just one engine to save fuel. Think the only other bird in the 'Nam war that was better for close air support as the A-1 which we replaced as there wasn't that many of them left. If you were associated with the A-37 in any way, why not check out the website to learn about the A-37 'Dragonfly' Association which is open to 'Anyone who flew, worked on, worked with, or just has a high admiration for the great little fighter.'
Dominick Fanelli, e-mail, 05.03.2010 04:11
This was the first jet I was crew cheif on, at Webb Air Force Base Texas. Which they closed and part of it is a prison. It is a great plane to work on and to taxi. I love this little jet. We never had one not return from training.
Robert Petersen, e-mail, 27.01.2010 20:50
Flew the 37's in 1965-66 as a student pilot at Webb AFB, Texas and after flying the F-4's I returned as a T-37 Instructor from 1967-1970 at Vance AFB, OK. I believe the most outstanding characteristic of the Tweet was that it was very "forgiving". It's artificial stall indiction system and duel engines made it about as safe a trainer as could be built. It was a great plane to prepare pilots for the T-38 and subsequent aircraft. I guess they were phased out because of the number of landings on the individual frames and the cost compared to the props. Loved that Tweeter Robert J. Petersen Webb-Class 66F
John Davison, e-mail, 27.01.2010 20:38
I flew The T37 at Bainbridge in 1960. Boy they arn't kidding about the spin. What a great trainer.
Dick Beck, e-mail, 01.01.2010 18:26
The T-37 was the first airplane that I ever solo'd. This was at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX in early 1962 (class 63-D)I thought it was "hot stuff". Well, it was hot...and noisy. I had no other reference until I got into the T-Bird (T-33). Then we encountered the T-38 Talon and discovered what "hot" was. Still, I have a fondness for the screaming Tweety Bird.
Ken Ramsay, e-mail, 19.12.2009 03:15
I flew the T-37 at Bainbridge AB, GA in the fall of 1960, Class 62-B, the last civilian contract training class. In late 1968 through 1969 I flew the A-37 as an instructor at England AFB, LA. From the T-37 to the A-37 was a real kick in the pants. Had a great time amazing towers who knew what a T-37 was, but had no idea the performance of the A-37, particularly with just internal fuel.
Sam Herron, e-mail, 03.12.2009 02:03
I flew the T-37 as an IP at Laughlin AFB. I thought it was a great airplane if you never wanted to go very far in it. Cross-cockpit instrument flight was sporty.
Dave DiMarchi, e-mail, 16.08.2008 19:37
Like countless thousands of USAF pilots, I got my jet start in "Tweets" (and came back 15 years later to the same squadron as DO). Now all but gone and replaced by the T-6A, this noisy, hot, uncomfortable, ineffient, little jet will hold a warm spot in many pilots' hearts - we just can't hear anything.....
Walter Martinez, e-mail, 05.08.2008 19:36
Es correcta la apreciasión referente a la cantidad de estaciones bajo el ala, el A-37B tiene cuatro bajo cada ala. En la FAU se hicieron modificaciones que permitian llevar seis tanques de combustible bajo las alas, en lugar de cuatro aumentando su autonomia. Hermoso avión, vole más de 2500 hs. en él.
Hank Hoffman, e-mail, 22.07.2008 07:06
Benhoa is correct about the eight hard points, and it looks like all the other comments apply to the T-37, not the A-37. I flew the Dragonfly in Vietnam, and also as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School. At TPS, spin training was a staple for the bird, but you had to do it with the tip tanks empty. In the spin it was pretty similar to the T-37, especially the recovery procedure, when you banged the stick forward hard. Not mentioned anywhere are the hydraulic inlet screens. These were retractable to avoid FOD on the ground and debris from the rockets fired in the air. I loved the bird.
Mel Mendelsohn, e-mail, 05.07.2008 18:47
HAD 100 HURS IN T-37 AT BARTOW AIR BASE CLASS 60-D. MY INSRUCTOR BOB KAISER FLEW THE AIRCRAFT AT RANDOLPH WITH PROJECT PALM. TESTING THE SPINS. LOVED TO GET US IN AN INVERTED SPIN. HE WAS A GREAT INSTUCTOR.
m nickel, e-mail, 28.05.2008 18:18
My grandfather was a machinist at Cessna and lost 2 fingers and a thumb while producing this aircraft.
Jack, e-mail, 20.05.2008 05:42
This bird was something else when recovering from a spin. The forward stick move had to be done swiftly. Otherwise the little bird wound up like a cheap watch.
Butch Owens, 10.05.2008 02:49
I was a flight chief at Craig AFB, Alabama and Laughlin AFB, TX 1976 - 1980. We had T-37s and trained mostly mid eastern foreign pilots. (Iranians) I wasn,t crazy about the little bird but we had a good oganization and some fine folks so it was a good experience.
rush, e-mail, 09.06.2007 00:29
The drawing showing six under wing pylons is incorrect, all A-37s had eight hard points. The A-37A was fitted with cockpit flak-curtains in late '67 or very early '68, and had the mini-gun.
