From looking at earlier images of some aircraft in the museum, it is apparent that their current positioning is less favourable for photography than it once was - this is an example. In the Lead-In-Fighter Trainer (LIFT) program, from 1975 new pilots went directly from T-38s to advanced fighters of an operational squadron. The LIFT program saved costs and reduced the training load on new pilots because they could learn fighter basics in a familiar aircraft. Modified with weapons pylon and gunsight, this Talon became one of the AT-38Bs so used by the 479th TTW (Holloman AFB, NM) till 1991

The T-38 was modified with a weapons pylon and a gunsight to become the AT-38B and was used in the LIFT program for the transition training of fighter pilots. This example was used as an aggressor trainer until its retirement in 1991. It arrived at the National Museum of the USAF during 1999 and placed on display in 2004.