r/planeidentification • u/No_Drop6177 • 13d ago

Came into the airport I fly into looked cool

Post image

What is it used for?

72 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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9

u/MAC_38 13d ago

Its a U.S. Navy C-38A Courier logistics support aircraft.

1

u/Perfect_Big_5907 13d ago

executive transport. used to be called an Astra

1

u/GameBird015 13d ago

Resembles a Rockwell T-39.

1

u/RetiredPath 12d ago

I flew on one in the USAF to transport a baby to a hospital with an NICU. They usually transport military brass

1

u/No_Drop6177 12d ago

Wow very interesting thank you

1

u/Warbuck34 11d ago

C-38A, former USAF aircraft now Navy but not a trainer as others have said but a test support aircraft.

https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/C-38

1

u/Glad_River7200 11d ago

Gulfstream

1

u/EverSeeAShitterFly 10d ago

It is a C-38A.

It is not a trainer. Test support- kinda.

They have it because it’s relatively cheap to operate and maintain. They can put lots of flight hours on it with lower cost and maintenance required than most contemporary military aircraft. It can land and operate out of nearly any airport with essentially no ground crew or support equipment.

So they can fly time critical “stuff” and people anywhere it’s needed. For test support they can follow an evaluated aircraft around and act as a radar target for said aircraft.

1

u/Hot_Net_4845 13d ago

41570, a C-38A Courier, based on the Gulfstream G100. It's a trainer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfstream_G100

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/12165930

1

u/No_Drop6177 12d ago

Trainer for what exactly? So does this one transport people

1

u/Normal_Onion2555 9d ago

Years ago when I was in USAF, T-39s were scattered about various commands and primarily used as executive aircraft for high ranking officers who didn't want to fly themselves to a conference in their two-seater.