100 Years of Naval Aviation

In 2011, the United States celebrates a proud history with the celebration of an important anniversary: the centennial of Naval Aviation. It was early in 1911 that the first Naval Officers began reporting for flight training, and the first of these pioneers became qualified as aviators.[1] The first training base became Naval Air Station Pensacola, which is still the starting point for every Naval Aviator today and is considered the “Cradle of Naval Aviation.”  It was on November 14^th, 1910 that Eugene Ely courageously launched in an airplane from the deck of the USS Birmingham, becoming the first person to ever fly from a ship.  On the opposite coast just two months later, Ely accomplished the first carrier landing when he landed on the Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay.[2]

From that first year to 2011, we have seen the incredible transformation of our Naval Air Forces into the most potent and capable fighting force in history.  Shipboard aviation has played a vital role in nearly every conflict the United States has been involved in, from being the decisive element in the second World War in the Pacific to Global War on Terrorism missions today.  United States Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are capable of accomplishing a wide variety of missions from the sea, whether that is from big-deck nuclear powered aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, or from the decks of destroyers or other smaller ships.

Over seventy percent of Earth is covered by water and two-thirds of the world’s population lies within easy reach of naval aircraft.[3] These planes and helicopters are autonomous- they require no basing rights or direct support from any foreign nation while operating at sea.  Carrier battle groups are often within a few days, if not hours, of potential conflict zones.  At the outbreak of any conflict or natural disaster, the first question our president often asks is “Where are the carriers?”  In addition to supporting events on land, Naval Aviation also remains vital to keeping the seas open.  With the vast majority of commercial transportation taking place on the world’s oceans, the protection of sea-lanes of transportation cannot be understated.

Technology will continue to advance as we strive to improve the platforms we already have, as well as develop new aircraft like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the P-8 Poseidon and implement them into the fleet.  We will continue to see more un-manned aerial vehicles; however, the bread and butter of our strike force will remain the manned strike aircraft launched from the carrier battle group, or from an amphibious strike group for Marine Corps assets.  These aircraft consist of Navy F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets, as well as Marine Corps Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, and attack helicopters.  In addition to carrier and land-based fighter/attack aircraft, there are many other Naval Aviation assets which cover a wide variety of missions, whether it be the incredibly versatile H-60 Seahawk helicopter providing disaster relief, a P-3 Orion observing and controlling the battle space, or a C-130 Hercules transporting supplies into a warzone.

US Naval Aviation has come a long way in the past one hundred years. Despite increased operational demands and fewer operating ships, our Navy and its aviation assets will continue to remain at the tip of the spear, ready to carry out our nation’s most important missions at a moment’s notice.  The celebration of the Centennial will be held throughout 2011 at airshows and Naval Air Stations all around the United States.

LTJG Mike Scott, USN

For more information on events for the anniversary, visit: http://www.navalaviation100.org/

The US Navy’s official page for the Centennial:

http://www.navy.mil/flynavy/

or keep up with the events on the 100^th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/navalaviation100

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[1]“Part 1 A Few Pioneers 1899-1916” United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995, 6 July 1999, <http://www.history.navy.mil/download/history/part01.pdf> (04 March 2011).

[2]“Part 1 A Few Pioneers 1899-1916”

[3] Helprin, Mark, “The Decline of U.S. Naval Power” The Wallstreet Journal, 2 March 2011.

Navy Advanced Jet Training

In order to become a fixed-wing, carrier-based Naval Aviator, the Student Naval Aviator (SNA) must go through several years of training.  After finishing Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) in Pensacola Florida and Navy primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor or T-6 Texan II, students who select “Tailhook” move on to Advanced Jet training in Meridian, Mississippi or Kingsville, Texas.

After finishing primary flight training in Corpus Christi, TX, I moved to Meridian to fly the T-45C Goshawk at VT-9.  The advanced jet training squadrons are responsible for training both US Navy and Marine Corps carrier pilots, as well as pilots from other nations such as France, England, Spain, Italy, India, and other countries.  The entire strike syllabus takes a little over a year to complete, although some students leave halfway through to train to fly the E-2C Hawkeye and C-2 carrier delivery plane, both of which also “trap” onboard the carrier.

The Goshawk is a carrier-modified version of the British BAe Hawk jet trainer, with a tailhook, beefier landing gear, speed brakes, and other modifications for our Navy’s training requirements.  The syllabus is divided into two phases.  The first phase consists of instrument flying (and cross country flights!), familiarization flights, formation flights, night fams, and field carrier landing practice.  Phase Two is all of the fun stuff: low level navigation (400 mph at 500 feet), weapons (dropping 8 practice bombs at a target), tactical formation and air combat maneuvering (dogfighting), night formation flights, and last but not least, “the boat.”

At the end of August, I will be flying from the coast of Jacksonville, FL to land on the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77), the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.  The first time students go out to the carrier, they fly there solo with an instructor lead.   During two or three days of carrier qualifications, the student will make ten arrested landings and catapult shots on the ship.  Throughout our training, we complete hundreds of practice field carrier landings before we go to the boat so students are ready when the time comes.  However, this is one of the most thrilling and fun parts of Naval Aviation and it cannot be replicated in any other way.

After finishing training over the next two months, I hope to earn my wings of gold and return to my hometown of Virginia Beach, VA to train at NAS Oceana.  VFA-106 is the East Coast fleet replacement squadron (FRS) for the F/A-18 Legacy and Super Hornet.  After the FRS, I’d like to join a fleet squadron in Japan or in Virginia Beach and will most likely deploy soon thereafter.

FLY NAVY!

LTJG Mike Scott, USN

Learning To Fly The Navy Way

My past few months as a commissioned Naval Officer have been a whirlwind of activity.   After graduating from the Naval Academy in May, a whirlwind trip through the Pacific on Air Force cargo jets, and a short temporary job at a fighter training squadron, I embarked on the long journey to become a Naval Aviator.

In July, I left for Pensacola, Florida, the aptly named “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” to begin Naval Flight training.  After three fantastic months of waiting in Pensacola (previously my hometown for three years) during the summer I finally classed up for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API).  API consists of six weeks: the first four weeks are focused on swimming, academics, and exams on subjects like Aerodynamics, Engines, and Weather.  The last two weeks were the fun part: survival training.  During that time we were able to do exciting things like the low-pressure chamber to simulate hypoxia and the water escape “dunkers.” 

After finishing up six weeks of training in Pensacola, I then moved to Corpus Christi, Texas to begin primary flight training.  Primary usually lasts six to nine months, depending on how quickly one progresses.  I’ve recently finished ground school and have begun studying a stack of books over a foot high.  Emergency procedures, systems, and course rules are just a few of the things I’m studying to prepare for simulators and my first block of flights in the T-34C Turbo Mentor.  With any luck, I should be finishing primary by summer and continuing on to advanced training for tailhook (carrier-based planes), helicopters, or maritime patrol.     

I’d like to think back to six years ago when I got my first real flight experience.  I wanted to become a pilot ever since I was born, but it was the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation that enabled me to complete flight training and become a civilian pilot.  The Homer Foundation provided the basis of my aviation knowledge and experience that has and will continue to help me as I progress through Naval Aviation training.  The Homer Foundation honors those who perished on the terrible events of September 11^th, continuing to inspire the hopes and dreams of lucky young aviators like myself.  I am forever grateful that I was fortunate enough to have been selected as one of the first scholarship recipients.  I hope the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation is able to continue to inspire new pilots as we enter the new year.

 

Michael Scott

Past scholarship recipient