A new dawn: Students begin training in Texan II

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As an early morning sun began to peak over the horizon Aug. 29, a new era in undergraduate pilot training also dawned at the 80th Flying Training Wing.

The first class of UPT students to train in the T-6A Texan II went up for the first time - affectionately called the "dollar ride" - in the wing's newest introductory aircraft. The Texan II is replacing the more than 50-year-old T-37 Tweet.

Six student sorties, or training missions, were scheduled for the 89th Flying Training squadron. Second Lt. Jeremy Curbey was one of the first students to experience the T-6A.

"I'm glad to be part (of the new program)," said the former Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration team crew chief. "It's like starting a new career."

Col. David Petersen, 80th FTW commander, said in a January interview that this next generation of introductory training aircraft will enhance the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program and the skills of those graduating from the multi-nationally run course.

"(This is a) great step forward for the ENJJPT program," Colonel Petersen said. "It's a more modern aircraft that will allow for better training. (The T-6) can do everything the T-37 can do and more."

Colonel Petersen said with its modern avionics, onboard global positioning system, built-in parachute and a pressurized cockpit, the Texan will provide a more seamless transition when it comes time for pilots to take flight in the T-38C Talon. The colonel is no stranger to the T-6A. He flew the T-6 during his time as the 47th Operations Group commander at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

Capt. Chris Breffitt, the instructor pilot for Lieutenant Curbey's flight, said although the ENJJPT has a new aircraft, how the Air Force trains pilots hasn't changed.

"Our goal is the same as it was 50 years ago - produce the best fighter pilots in the world," he said.

The first sorties are basically orientation flights for the students, seeing where various airfields are that are used during training missions. Instructor Pilot Capt. Jeroen Driessen of the Royal Netherlands air force said after taking off, the aircraft flew north into Oklahoma and then back to the base.

"Being the first ride, we just try to show them a little and get them familiar (with the area)," he said.

Second Lt. Jason Ford, another UPT student, said he flew aircraft as a student at the U.S. Air Force Academy and also had training sorties in the T-6 simulator. But actually feeling the aircraft underneath him became a reality.

"It was a great experience," he said, describing the ride as "smooth." "It's a great new plane."

The first two T-6s arrived in January and were used to train maintenance personnel with Lier Siegler Services, Inc. More aircraft began to arrive in March and about 70 Texan IIs will replace the aging Tweet. The transition should be complete by December 2009.