NAVAL AIR STATION
CORPUS CHRISTI
IN ITS FIRST THREE YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THE COMMAND REACHED THE PINNACLE OF THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING CORNMAN RECOGNITION: VT-35 WAS NAMED CALENDAR YEAR 2000 RECIPIENT OF THE CNATRA AWARD FOR TRAINING EXCELLENCE AS WELL AS THE 2000 RECIPIENT OF THE VADM GOLDTHWAITE AWARD FOR TRAINING EXCELLENCE. VT-31's sister squadron, VT-35 was commissioned in October of 1999 to fly the TC-12B aircraft. VT-3I's command size was reduced by approximately one third and the aircraft fleet returned to solely the T-44A. VT-31 is one of four aviation training squadrons attached to Training Air Wing Four and is one of two advanced multi engine training squadrons in the Navy. The squadron has historically trained students from the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and foreign students in all phases of advanced multi-engine flight procedures to include Aircraft Familiarization, Radio Instruments, Airways Navigation, Visual Navigation and Formation flying. After receiving their "Wings of Gold" or "Silver," the newly designated Military Aviators will head to their particular aircraft, usually a P-3C Orion (Navy), C-130 Hercules (Marine, Coast Guard and Air Force) or HU25 Falcon (Coast Guard). VT-31 carries a staff composed of approximately 69 officers and 19 enlisted. The squadron utilizes Beechcraft contract maintenance which employs a totally civilian maintenance force. The squadron's primary mission continues to be training the finest Military Avia tors in the world. 36 | MILITARY RELOCATION GUIDE
T-44A "Pegasus"
The primary aircraft flown by Air Train ing Squadron Thirty-One is the T-44 "Pegasus." The T-44A is the military version of the popular Beechcraft King Air 90 and is equipped with a full range of avionics equipment for instrument conditions including a weather radar and RNAV. Students, as well as instructors, appreciate the fully pressur ized and air-conditioned cabin which provides an ideal learning environment. The aircraft is used for advanced turboprop aircraft training and for intermediate E2/ C2 (carrier based turboprop radar aircraft) training. It’s equipped with de-icing and anti-icing systems augmented by instrumentation and navigation equipment which allows flight under instrument and icing conditions. The interior included a seating arrangement for an instructor pilot (right seat), a student pilot (left seat), and a second student. Two additional passenger seats are included. A distinguishing feature of the aircraft is the avionics fault insertion capabilities afforded the instructor pilot from the right-seat arm rest and the second student/observer audio control panel that allows the second student to monitor all radio communications. The T-44A is powered
by two 550 haft horse-powerPT6A34B turboprop engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney.
Training Squadron Thirty-Five
Training Squadron Thirty-Five (VT35) is one of two advanced multi-engine training squadrons in the Navy. Student military aviators selected to fly the C-130 (USAF) and P-3 (USN) aircraft, report to VT-35 for training focused on asymmetrical thrust and instru ment flight, and are awarded their pilot wings upon graduation. The squadron also provides fixed wing multi-engine transition training to U. S. Navy test pilot candidates from the helicopter community. The squadron flies nearly 14,000 hours annually, with more than 43,000 landings and nearly 6,500 student flight training events. It is the only advanced joint leadership (USN and USAF) flight training squadron in the military. Training Squadron-35 was established Oct. 29, 1999, under the leadership of an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel-the first time that a Navy command was established under the leadership of a US Air Force commanding officer. In its first three years of existence, the command reached the pinnacle of the Naval Air Training Cornman recog-
