NAVAL AIR STATION KINGSVILLE

strike pipeline, flying the EA-6B Prowler, EA-18G Growler, F/A-18 C/D Hornet, or the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. Upon selection, they move on to Fleet Replacement Squadrons where they will learn their fleet aircraft.

Boeing T-45 "Goshawk"

e Boeing, T-45 "Goshawk", flown at NAS Kingsville, is a tandem-seat, carrier capable, jet trainer used to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots. A Navy version of the British Aerospace 'Hawk' aircraft, it is used for intermediate and advanced portions of the Navy/ Marine Corps pilot training program for jet carrier aviation and tactical strike missions.

e T-45 replaced the T-2 ‘Buckeye’ trainer and the TA-4 ‘Skyhawk’ trainer with an integrated training system that includes the aircraft, operations and instrument fighter simulators, academics, and training integration system.

Training Squadron Twenty One (VT-21)

" e Fighting Redhawks"

Phone: (361) 516-6440 / DSN: 876-6440 www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw2/vt2l/ Originally commissioned as ATU202 in April 1951, VT-21 began training students in the F-6F "Hellcats." May 1954 was the first time students were trained in a combat aircraft, the F9F 'Panther.' e 'Panthers' were replaced in January 1958 by another Grumman cat, the swept-wing F-9F8 'Cougar.' e squadron was re-designated VT-21 on May 21, 1960. Within the next year, the squadron flew 15,216 consecutive accident-free hours, and was the first advanced jet training squadron to accomplish this feat. In 1970, after 12 years of service, the 'Cougar' was replaced by the Douglas TA-4J 'Skyhawk.'

VT-21 set a record for advanced jet training squadrons in 1972. e instructors and students ofVT-21 logged a total of 60,850 accident-free hours. at same year, the squadron was presented with a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

A long list of awards attests to the squad¬ron's outstanding safety record over the years. e Admiral John H. Towers Flight Safety Award was presented to VT-21 in 1968. All 19 jet and propeller squadrons that were part of the Naval Training Command competed for this award. In 1972, the squadron was presented with its 17th ACES (Alertness, Competence, Effectiveness and Safety) Award. is award was presented by the Chief of Naval Air Training for distinguished performance in aviation safety. e Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award has been presented

BOEING T-45 "GOSHAWK"

General Characteristics

CONTRACTOR: Boeing Company

PROPULSION:

Rolls Royce F405-RR-401 turbofan engine with 5,527 pounds thrust

WINGSPAN: 30 feet 10 inches (9.39 meters)

LENGTH: 39 feet 4 inches (11.98 meters)

HEIGHT: 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 meters)

WEIGHT:

Take-off maximum gross, 13,500 pounds (6,075 kg) empty 9,394pounds (4,261 kg)

SPEED: 645 miles per hour

CEILING: 42,500 feet

RANGE: 700 nautical miles (805 statute miles)

ARMAMENT: None

CREW:

Two (instructor pilot, student pilot) to VT-21 on numerous occasions. is prestigious award is given annually to the squadron with the best safety record in its class. VT-21 won it in 1962, 1965, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1979 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, and l999. For l982 and 1984, VT-21 was awarded the CNATRA. Training Effectiveness Award for the Best Advanced Training Squadron. In 1976, 1985, and 1996, the squadron was awarded the Vice Admiral Robert Goldwaite Award, singling out VT-21 as number one of the 20 training squadrons in CNATRA.

VT-21 was the first squadron to transition to the T-45 Total System (TS) Strike Flight Training Curriculum. is transition from the Douglas TA-4J "Skyhawk" to the T-45 "Goshawk" began February 1992, with the first students training in January 1993.

Training Squadron Twenty Two (VT-22) " e Golden Eagles"

Phone: (361) 516-4084 / DSN: 876-4084 www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw2/vt22/ VT-22 was first formed on June 13, 1949, at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Corpus Christi, to furnish jet transitional training for newly-designated naval aviators. Designated Advanced Training Unit SIX (ATU6), it received its first aircraft, a T V-I, in July of that year. ATU-6 was the first unit in the training command to instruct in jet aircraft.

After only two months, the unit transferred to NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and was re-designated Jet Transi- tional Training Unit ONE (J'ITU-1). e squadron's m1ss10n was extended to include training of fleet pilots. During this period, the unit transitioned the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the "Blue Angels", to jet aircraft.