Major flies 3,000 hours in Tweet

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
Fighter pilots are accustomed to evading their enemies in the sky when necessary.

For Maj. Jim Kuehn, a flight safety officer with the 80th Flying Training Wing and T-37 instructor pilot with the 97th Flying Training Squadron, his ground evasion tactics didn't work as he attempted to fend off friendly attackers Feb. 5 following a flight that put him over 3,000 in the seat of a T-37 Tweet.

"Flying 3,000 hours in the T-37 is an incredible accomplishment," said Lt. Col. James McGinn, the 80th Flying Training Wing's chief of safety. "It took approximately 2,300 flights over nearly an eighteen year period. His true dedication to training future pilots is absolutely outstanding."

The major has been flying the Tweet since 1989, and has flown at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., Reese AFB, Texas, Randolph AFB, Texas, Laughlin AFB, Texas and here at Sheppard.

According to him, he's "flown all over the T-37 world."

In addition, he's flown the B-52 at Minot AFB, N.D., as well as the T-38 there too.
An active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve component, Major Kuehn has spent the majority of his time in the T-37 as an instructor pilot.

"I've enjoyed the entire time I've flown it," he said. "It's a great trainer and I'll probably retire when it does. I've spent a lot of time in the Tweet, and never planned to have 3,000 hours in one."

The major said he appreciates everything his co-workers did for him in celebration of the milestone, but that he could've done without the dunk-tank.

"I've been in that tank a lot," he said. "They throw me in for just about anything."

Major Kuehn witnessed the changeover from training on the Tweet to the T-6 at Laughlin, and will be here at Sheppard to witness its retirement again, currently scheduled for 2008.