Northrop T-38A Pre-Buy Checklist
Jet · 30 active
Purchase Price
$2.0M-$8.0M
Prebuy Items
—
ADs
—
Insurance
$47,250
per year (experienced)
Safety Record (NTSB)
Public incident data · 1982-2025
1
Total Incidents
0
Accidents
0
Fatal
33.3
Per 1K Fleet
Raw public data from NTSB. Not a safety grade. Compare with fleet size and hours flown.
Purchase Price by Year
1970-1979
$525K-$1.0M
1980-1989
$735K-$1.4M
1990-1999
$1.1M-$2.0M
2000-2009
$1.6M-$3.0M
2010-2019
$2.6M-$5.1M
2020-present
$5.3M-$10.1M
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Northrop T-38A cost?
Typical purchase price: $2.0M-$8.0M
What should I check before buying a Northrop T-38A?
Have a qualified A&P mechanic perform a thorough pre-buy inspection of the airframe, engine, avionics, and logbooks.
How much is insurance for a Northrop T-38A?
Experienced pilots: $47,250-$57,750/year.
Are there any known issues with the Northrop T-38A?
Check FAA airworthiness directives and type club resources for known issues.
Cost Summary
Purchase$2.0M-$8.0M
Annual Fixed$79,650/yr
Hourly Variable$1400.00/hr
5-Year Total$3.1M-$10.0M
Engine
ModelGE J85-5H
Power3850 HP
TBO2,400 hrs
Overhaul$360,000-$600,000
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only. Always hire a qualified A&P mechanic for a professional pre-buy inspection. Data sourced from FAA records and industry benchmarks.