Cessna T-37 Tweet Demonstration 

The T-37 was known as "The Converter". It converts JP-4 into noise.

T37 one of the most beautiful well proportioned durably built aircraft..period

I flew over 1,000 hours as an instructor in the Tweet. Last flight, June 1985

I few the Tweet as a Cadet in the last class of Aviation Cadets. The one maneuver that sticks in my mind is the aggressive recovery technique used in spin recovery. In an "accelerated" spin, your helmet would be pinned to the side of the canopy. Impressive! It was almost too easy to land given its wide stance and low profile. A big disadvantage was that the instructor was sitting right next to you. Mine used to grab my O2 hose and shake my head around if I screwed up a maneuver. Fond memories...

Loved the Tweet! Always wanted to crew them in the Air Force but wasn't that fortunate. The engines at idle emitted such a shriek that we called it the 10,000lb dog whistle. Who knew that Cessna could build a jet that reliable and at that performance level.

I didn't enjoy my time as a student in the Tweet during the Fall, 1972. I just couldn't get the hang of it. Didn't bust any rides, but didn't impress anyone with my golden hands either. My first ride in a T-38 was like walking out of the darkness onto a sunlit plain, lol. I did great in the T-38 and ended up as a T-38 IP at graduation. Went on to fly Buffs and Bones until retirement.

The Tweet was the most photogenic airplane according to (I think) Air Combat magazine back in the 1970's. I have 85 hrs on the Tweet from pilot training.

During my hitch in the Air Force, I was a Pneudraulics System Specialist. My first permanent assignment was at Laughlin AFB maintaining T37s and T38s. The engines on the T37s were very shrill which gave the aircraft its nickname "Tweet". I also remember manufacturing teflon hose replacements for the rubber hoses on the hydraulic system. Spent many hours at the PM dock replacing hydraulic hoses. On the belly between the engines is a compartment called the "hell hole" which I had to enter a few times looking for hydraulic leaks.

The Tweet's piercing engine sound was something to hear up close as an SP on the flightline, you had to move away if you had no hearing protection. The igloos in the WSA in the background as he taxis in also brings back memories, but of SAC.

Flew in the T-37B ACE program for about 2 years before upgrade at Blytheville AFB. Racked up about 340 hours in the ACE program. Great as a XC jet : no APU required, all we needed was a runway of 5000 feet to operate on and any FBO that would accept the Federal fuel card.

On one ACE local flight the KC-135 copilot I was flying a T-37B with, we logged 2.6 hours on one tank of gas. Feb 25, 1983 in 68-8028. We left the a/c knob pulled out(no bleed air from the engines for cockpit heating), climb-out/cruise and just flew the confines of our local MOA, (FAGUS MOA) at L/D airspeed which I think was 140KIAS at FL250. After 2 hours of that we flew back to KBYH at FL250/140KIAS. intending to hold overhead the base. We wanted to see if we could log a 3:00 hour sortie. Captain Steve Prowell, the ACE detachment commander had us land : “We don’t want to have to call the fuel truck back as it’s Friday and we all want to go home.”

I worked the line at an FBO for over two decades and we had these visit us many times......I think thats where my hearing went

They aren't ugly. I think they are cuter than a barrel of speckle pups

The controller at Edward's was not impressed with our climb rate as we departed. He asked us, What kind of a fighter are you? With a lot of disgust in his voice. The Tweet did a good job for what it was intended. Noisy, hot, uncomfortable, but fun to fly aerobatics. Easy to fly, difficult to fly well. I have done idle power loops. A student demoed a 6 g aileron roll. Progressive spins where a spin starts one direction and in the messed up recover goes right into a spin in the opposite direction with no recovery in between. Spin recovery with ones' back stuck on the canopy as the stick is very aggressively shoved full forward. Looking around to find the stick from such an unusual position. Great times!

While stationed at Tyndall AFB in the early 80's, I'd occasionally see these on the flightline. I always loved the look of these things. You can stand next to them and look DOWN into the cockpit. It's like looking at a Lamborghini sports car.

Just came across this video. I flew the T-37 as a student in pilot training. Later I flew it in ACE (Accelerated copilot enhancement). Good times.

i worked on the t-37 for the first 3 1/2 years of my career. it really was a flying tank. very simple to maintain but keeping the tail clean was a pain.

Flew in the T37 as an ROTC Cadet in ‘77. Will never forget the sensation of pulling Gs, rolls, and just plain fun. 👍🏾👍🏾

I was an air traffic controller at Hill AFB, UT in 1985. Got an incentive ride as a flight of two. Couldn't quit smiling for days. As we taxied in with the canopy up, I found out why they called it the tweet. Before the pilot could stop me I unstrapped my facemask and blasted both of our ears as the mask mike picked up every bit of shrill engine noise. He never invited me back....I fly corporate for a living now. Still have 1.1 logged in the tweet!

when I was in the air force, my first duty assignment in 1969 was Laredo AFB, which was part of the Air Training Command. they had T-37s and T-38s. the student pilots would first fly the T-37 before moving on to the T-38s. I was a crew chief and worked on the T-38s for a year before going to Vietnam and working on F-100s.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,not ugly at all.

What a trip down memory lane ... Laughlin AFB, TX 1998-1999.

Sheppard AFB 1984 - 1985 always remember my flights in the Tweet

♪ ♪Mem'ries, light the corners of my mind♪ ♪..... Remind me of the good old days back in 74-75 at WEBB AFB in Big Spring Texas during pilot training course.

I was MOS squadron at CAFB 1977 to 81. Crew chief on the tweet. Also did two TDY's to BAFB for the ACE program. Good times. Got into flying and used the G.I. Bill to get all my ratings.

I've always loved this plane.. I think looks awesome.Now at 67 I'm not sure if it's even posible to go from being a non pilot to being able to own and fly this.My neighbor when I was young was a fighter pilot and inspiration to me by his charector.

You want a complex instrument display climb int the front cockpit of an F4 Phantom!

Soloed out in 1971, Reese AFB TX

Ugliest? I've always thought the T37 was the cutest,nicest looking plane. My neighbor was in the navy and I'm sure we saw him land in a T37. I wanted to be a pilot since I was 12, but a guy said I had to learn geometry. Now at 65 I still love this plane. Maybe it's the side by side seating. I remember seeing two silver almost chrome T37's on hangers driving by the Chino Airport in California. Great Video and Flying. Keep up the good work and post some more, maybe in cockpit videos.

As an ROTC cadet, I got to ride in the Tweet. I wasn't impressed at first, but when we hit the big blue sky, I was in wonderland. The speed and agility of this plane were outstanding, I laughed with every "g" pulled and every loop we did. I wanted to fly forever. When we landed the pilot unhooked me from the oxygen port and I thought "where's my air?". I didn't I lose my lunch like a few of my fellow cadets did. I had the greatest time of my life.

Responsible for 99 % of all air force hearing loss

I dont think that the "Tweety Bird" is ugly.!!! I think it is a well proportionate design, even a very nice plane.!!! And durable one.!!! We used to call it "the transformer", because it tranforms the fuel in srieking noise.!!! A very rugged a/c.

" Desert Hunters " , Class 7606 , Webb AFB. Air Force of Chile Second Lieutenants got All the Trophies with almost 100% score. I took Academics with 99.3% ...came third in flight score. We had only 40 hrs. T 34 Mentor before the Tweet , but were very young ( 18- 20 ) and Very Competitive ! I was lucky to fly A 37 Dragonfly at 20 ! 😉😊😁😎

nobody: Cessna T-37: *I have no mouth, but I must scream*

Gotta throw in my kudos! Flew the tweet for almost 4 years and Randolph. The 7000 pound dog whistle. Loved this airplane even more than the T-38. Got a ride one time in a F-16 one time, glad I never had to do that for a living, 9 g's and I nearly passed my liver out my main discharge hole ;-) Ah, back in the glory days... Cheers to all the Tweet guys!!!

AKA "The 5000 pound machine designed to turn JP-4 into NOISE & SMOKE. Now that I've completed UPT/Flying Career I'd LOVE to Own & fly one again! Great airplane they had to put strakes on it to teach Spin Recoveries. Throttles Idle, Rudder & Ailerons Neutral, Stick Abruptly Full Aft & Hold...after 50+ years flying & I still remember the Memory Action Items.😊🫡

Great little airplane. I’d love to take her up again.

I don't see anything ugly about this aircraft. To me it looks perfectly suited for what it does, it would be the best daily flyer if I was wealthy and had my own

I wound up with close to 1,000 flights in the Tweet, around 850 instructor hours. The airframe was virtually indestructible and, trust me on this, there were some who tried. In the late 60's the wing spar was replaced/ beefed up to A-37 specs. The engines were tough but thirsty and a friend of mine put in a suggestion that they be replaced with the motors used on the Cessna Citation I. Too expensive, said HHQ. "Why, the price of fuel would have to double to make this pay off!" Yeah... about that...

I want one of these...don't care if people think they are ugly. I bet they are easy to work on, cheap to fix (for a jet), somewhat efficient in fuel consumption, low stall speed.......frankly, these things are cool as heck!

Waz at EAFB n 58 wen this AC arrived. Waz a flight mechanic on C-47,54, n 119 . Reciprocating aircraft.

Let’s see…from memory (UPT Class of 81-05 @ Willy)… THROTTLES - IDLE RUDDER & AILERONS - NEUTRAL STICK - ABRUPTLY FULL AFT & HOLD RUDDER - ABRUPTLY APPLY FULL RUDDER OPPOSITE SPIN DIRECTION (Opposite Turn Needle) & HOLD STICK - ABRUPTLY FULL FORWARD ONE TURN AFTER APPLYING RUDDER CONTROLS - NEUTRAL AFTER SPINNING STOPS & RECOVER FROM DIVE

That’s one of my all time favorite aircraft.

Columbus AFB, 1976. Remember my first flight I had strapped my parachute harness on tight between my legs and waddled out to the jet. No one told me that you did that once you were seated in the jet. Got a few chuckles....

Back when I was in the Navy our pilots usually flew one of the squadron planes when they went on leave. We flew A-7 Es back then. They used a couple of blivits for luggage. I think they were called blivits. They looked like drop tanks but lacked any kind of plumbing, They were just hallow containers that could be jettisoned if need be.

Thank You! Had not heard that before and wondered. Best Regards!

What a great video. From trainer to lobster transporter. Sitting side by side this is a great way to fly it as a couple😎

Loud little gadflies! I was working in an F-16 cockpit and looked up just in time to see a tweet come grinding down the runway with his wheels up. the student inadvertently landed wheels up and his IP let him do it.

Thank You For Video Share.

my dad worked on them at laredo af base in the 60s sweet lil plane

Now that's a plane! Must be like a sportscar in the sky

Like the A-10, everyone says its ugly, but I think it's a good looking aircraft.

Anybody fly 64-3420 ? That was my airplane while stationed at Laughlin AFB -- 1987-1989.

The most efficent method of converting JP4 into noise .

My grandpa might buy this exact t-37

I WANT one of these SO bad..... will never be able to afford one..... but I WANT one. lol

1977 Misisipi Columbus Air Force Base ... any one know's John P. Kopec ,he was my instructor .

Damn........... Memories........ 8501 Reese AFB, Tx.

Ugly? Nope. Tweet was a good looking bird. I crewed them for 2 years at Laughlin and a year at Columbus (in the phase hangar). 57-2285 was my bird. Loved working on that plane.

2:25 It would be safer if there was a metal divider to prevent luggage from sitting on top of those electronic devices. Why is it missing this shelf/divider piece?

There is some "Tweet" in most Cessna Citations flying today!!

Ahh the memories!

96-02 Laughlin! "All stick, no trim"

Soloed the Tweet in 1971 out of Williams AFB.

Loudest plane EVA! Geezus.

Nice little plane, but i like the Canadair CT-114 Tutor better. The high horizontal stab on the Tutor looks better

Blue Angels napping as their baby-siblings play

I would guess Scotty is around 56 now and flying for some airline.

Im 69 and rented cessns 150's and 152's since '75. I think the T-37 seems to me like the cessna 152 of jets 😎

I hated that noisy thing when hung over lol

Yea Airforce!!!

Ugly, there is nothing even slightly ugly about the Beautiful and Awesome Tweet, or the super powerful Dragonfly, nothing!! Cessna designers knocked it out of the park with this aircraft!!

"What's the only edible piece on the T-37 ?" An actual question on a classmate's contact check. Know the answer...win a cookie.

That is not an ugly aircraft! Looks to me like a sweet Tweet 😂👍

This video was posted in 2014 most likely no one will read this post in 2020. That is a beautiful plane. Not the best airplane never the less a great training and acrobatic plane. These planes can do acrobatics that no other jets can. I worked on T-37C for 3 years in the 1980's at the Portuguese Airforce for the " Asas de Portugal" Wings of Portugal! honestly was the best time of my life. easy to work on vs other planes such as Aviocar or Alloett (helicopter) or T38's. The seats side by side are awesome for a pilot in training. Just luv that Plane. I am still looking for the model T-37. I thought it was made by "Revell".

I want one.

Excelente video desde chile gran avión ese t33 de instruccion acá estuvo en servicio casi 2008 de hay debaja a mi también me gusta los aviones y el aermodelisno 🇨🇱🤘🤘🤘

It's a little odd looking, but I wouldn't call it ugly.

"If the landing gear wasn't to come down you could land perfectly safe on its belly...i think😂"

T-37 has RUINED more hearing of crew chief than any other aircraft in modern history. It caused my Tennitus within a week of assignment at very 1st base, very 1st emergency recovery which caught us unexpected with no hearing protection. Yes, I'm aware it was our responsibility to have hearing protection at all times. When you're caught unexpected in an emergency, you're basically screwed.

It's a converter. It converts JP4 into noise.

Memories! (Including the inadvertent inverted spin. Ooops. Sorry about that.) LOL

"Ugly Airplane Award"??? I have a model of this plane I built about 15 years ago (I'm 58 now) that i bought because I thought it was one of the prettiest little jets ever!

The flying Dog Whistle!

The T-37 is not an ugly plane. She has fine lines. She also looks a lot like the CT-114 Tutor.

t-37 ugly? not a chance. somewhere between cute and beautiful. now, the a-10 - THERE'S a plane that's ugly, and PROUD OF IT!

I never considered these ugly.

the first plane I worked on as a jet engine tec the J69 great little plane CRAIG AIR FORCE BASE SELMA ALABAMA

Loud ass jet

It's look like Cessna Dragonfly. Is not?

Deafening, and then it's on to the T 38, the white rocket

"who cares how it looks as long at it works "Trust me I worked with many "ugly " things that worked better then its much better looking counter parts

The A 37's father.

T37 is not an Ugly jet....but its a lovely and decent Jet plane 4 sure..

The T-37 isn't ugly. Who in his right mind would say such a thing? It is small though.

Ugliest airplane? Well that's undeserved

Ugly airplane my butt! This airplane may not have been the most modern or even the prettiest airframe on the block but it performed a vital role in our country's defense in helping to train the next generation of pilots. Though most of the airframes flying were probably older than the aviators flying them it is a very simple and beautiful aircraft to fly into a clear blue sky!

Ugliest Airplane Award? The Tweet is a good looking aircraft compared to many new aircraft!

Flying Dog whistle

the sound of the reactor is AWFUL