Naval Air Training Command Celebrates One Million Flight Hours

From Chief of Naval Air Training Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy and the Boeing Company celebrated Naval Air Training Command's one millionth flight hour of the T-45 Goshawk aircraft, the Navy's premier jet trainer, Aug. 26 at Cecil Field in Jacksonville.

"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 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.

Boeing presented a plaque to Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) and each of the three Naval Air Training Command wings that fly the T-45, Training Air Wing 1, Training Air Wing 2 and Training Air Wing 6, during a ceremony following a formation flight over USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

"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."

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, Miss.; Kingsville, Texas; and Pensacola, Fla., before earning their wings of gold.

"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.