Jet Is The Primary Trainer For F/A-18 Hornet Pilots
The Naval Air Training Command celebrated the 1 millionth flight
hour of the T-45 Goshawk Thursday at Cecil Field in Jacksonville,
FL.
U.S. Navy Photo
"This milestone is another testament to the quality that this
team has put into each and every T-45 that we have training our
future aerial combat warriors," said Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore, chief
of Naval Air Training. "It's an exciting time in Naval Air Training
as we forge into the future with the T-45 Goshawk, converting the
remaining analog models into digital/glass cockpits to mirror the
aircraft in the fleet."
For more than 18 years, the twin-seat, single-engine Goshawk,
the Navy's premier jet trainer aircraft, has prepared student
aviators to transition to front-line Navy and Marine Corps fleet
aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-6
Prowler, EA-18G Growler and AV-8B Harrier. It is also the only
aircraft in the world designed to conduct carrier-based flight
training. A total of three Naval Air Training Command wings fly the
T-45; Boeing presented each with a plaque at today’s
event.
"Boeing is honored to commemorate the T-45's rich legacy with
our U.S. Navy customer, and we share the Navy's pride in the
aircraft’s critical mission of training for naval aviation,"
said Greg Dunn, T-45 program manager at Boeing. "Boeing was proud
to deliver the final T-45 aircraft last year. Our support of the
T-45 fleet continues with affordable upgrades and supply-chain
solutions. The Boeing team understands the importance of maximizing
readiness and safety for the Navy so that aspiring aviators and
flight officers are able to climb into a T-45 and take to the sky
to earn those cherished wings of gold."
U.S. Navy Photo
The Goshawk is a component of the fully integrated T-45 training
system, which also includes high-fidelity instrument and flight
simulators, computer-assisted classroom learning, an automated
training-management asset, and contractor logistics support. More
than 3,600 student aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and
several international militaries have received instruction on the
system at naval air stations in Meridian, MS, Kingsville, TX, and
Pensacola, FL, before earning their "wings of gold" naval aviator
insignia.
"BAE Systems is proud of its role on the T-45 program, and of
the training aircraft capability that we have brought to bear in
support of our partnership with Boeing," said Martin Rushton,
managing director for BAE Systems' Air Sector Training Business.
"The T-45 Goshawk plays a key part in the overall training system
for the U.S. Navy, and it is great to see that the aircraft
continues to perform so well."
Boeing delivered the 221st and final T-45 training jet to the
Navy in November 2009. The company continues to support the T-45
fleet by providing engineering, logistics, and support equipment in
partnership with BAE Systems, which supplied the aircraft’s
rear and center fuselage sections, wing assembly and vertical tail.
Boeing manages the T-45's spare and repair parts supply, and
supports L-3 Vertex with aircraft maintenance. Rolls-Royce provided
the T-45’s Adour F405 turbofan power plant.
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