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

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