Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

YT-38 Talon

Supersonic Training Wings

YT-38 <i>Talon</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

1. YT-38 Talon Marker

Inscription.

This is a beloved plane among Air Force pilots. For over 50 years, Air Force fighter and bomber pilots-tens of thousands of Airmen-have trained in the Talon. In this jet they power above the speed of sound for the first time, with an instructor in the back seat.

"You can go on and fly Raptors, or whatever, but nothing will compare to the innocent joy of being a young student, free to go upside down, straight up, and every which way but loose, all on your own."
-Ron Wagner Air Force pilot

THE PROTOTYPE
You're looking at the second T-38 ever built: the "Y" prefix means it was a prototype. After testing this one, the Air Force ordered over 1,000 of them. Around half of them are still used in a variety of ways.

The Chevy Corvair and the YT-38 debuted in the same year. The Corvair is now a classic car, but pilots train in the Talon every day.

B-2 Spirit pilots practice flying in the Talon, which is less costly to fly and to maintain than the B-2.

Talons often take the role of the enemy in fighter training.

DATA CARD
Top Speed mph · 860
Crew · 2
Range · Regional
Payload · No weaponry

Erected by South

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Dakota Air and Space Museum.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Education • War, Cold. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 44° 7.972′ N, 103° 4.325′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: FB-111A Aardvark (a few steps from this

YT-38 <i>Talon</i> and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

2. YT-38 Talon and Marker

marker); A-7D Corsair II (a few steps from this marker); HGM-25A Titan I (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named HGM-25A Titan I (a few steps from this marker); F-102A Delta Dagger (within shouting distance of this marker); B1-B Lancer (within shouting distance of this marker); U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole (within shouting distance of this marker); F-84F Thunderstreak (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Rockwell B-1B "Lancer" (was within shouting distance of this marker).

Regarding YT-38 Talon. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.

YT-38 <i>Talon</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

3. YT-38 Talon

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.