Tag Archives: pilot training

Navy Begins Training in T-6B

A recent Navy news release notes the beginning of “naval aviator” (ie, pilot) training in its new T-6B.  The Navy has had the T-6A for some time, but only recently acquired the upgraded version.

The T-6 Texan II program was intended to be a joint effort between the Navy and Air Force to develop a common pilot training aircraft.  In fact, the development program was even entitled the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS).

After receiving 47 T-6As, however, it appears the Navy has decided to obtain the rest of its fleet as T-6Bs, which have flat screen displays, advanced avionics, a HUD, and advanced controls.  It will ultimately fly over 300 T-6 airframes.  The Air Force, which has no current plans to acquire the T-6B, will have approximately 450 T-6As.

US Still Training Afghan Military in Basics

The US military has been in an “advisory” role to the Afghan military for years.  An interesting article at the Air Force Times notes some of the challenges occurring even now, as the deadline for removing forces from Afghanistan begins to approach:

Even after more than a year, the 500 Afghan airmen in Kandahar still grapple with the basics — even personal hygiene. The dining hall workers still have to be told to wash their hands before they handle food.  The pilots sometimes refuse to land their Mi-17s [helicopters] because they’re too tired, forcing their American advisers to take the controls.

Sounds like they still need a little work.

USAFA’s Unique Flight Programs

The US Air Force Academy certainly has its critics with regard to the experiences cadets must endure, but it also offers some significant and unique opportunities.

As a college student receiving a tuition-free four year education, how’d you like to head down the street to the school’s flying program and take an aircraft for a spin (also for free)?

Can’t really beat the view, either.

USAFA T-52A and T-41D line up for takeoff on a clear April morning on the USAFA airfield, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

F-16 Triggers Airliner Alarm

A few articles recently described how a formation of US Air Force F-16s

came so close to a commercial flight over the US this week that they triggered a cockpit alarm in the commuter plane

The incident was later described in this way:

The commercial plane “encountered two F-16s and they had a near-miss incident,” [Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony] Molinaro said.

While the term “near miss” in FAA parlance bodes ill, the incident is rarely as dramatic as it sounds.

While the reports don’t say how close the aircraft Read more

T-6 Pilot Ejects at Vance AFB

The Air Force reported that a pilot ejected from his T-6A Texan II near Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.  Based on the report, it seems the aircraft went off the end of the runway (into the mud) and the pilot ejected:

The aircraft is intact, sitting off of the end of the base’s runway 17L, with gear extended in the mud.

The report does not indicate if he was a student or instructor; only that he was solo.  (The term “he” is generic, as the Air Force report carefully avoided the use of gender-specific pronouns.)

Also noted at the Air Force Times.

US Air Force Trains Afghan Air Force

As well as flying and fighting, the US Air Force has also been training the fledgling Afghan national army air corps in the C-27.  A group of 8 US Air Force members, pilots and loadmasters, are training a group of 7 Afghans in the hopes that they will soon form their own air force.

The report on the training squadron notes that one of the pilots attended US Air Force pilot training, “spending over a year training in the T-6 trainer at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.”  US pilots normally fly the T-6 for only a few months, though the Afghan student’s curriculum was probably geared very specifically to the C-27 he would eventually fly.

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 13