Training Squadron TWENTY-TWO
Training Squadron TWENTY-TWO was first formed on 13 June 1949 at Naval Air station, Corpus Christi, Texas, for the purpose of furnishing jet transitional training for newly designated naval aviators. It was designated Advanced Training Unit SIX (ATU-6) and received its first aircraft, a TV-1, in July of that year. This was the first unit in the training command to instruct in jet aircraft.
After only two months, the unit was transferred to Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, and redesignated Jet Transitional Training Unit ONE (JTTU-1). The squadron's mission was extended to include training of fleet pilots, and during this period, the unit transitioned the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the "Blue Angels", to jet aircraft. On 20 August 1951, JTTU-1 moved to its present location at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Kingsville, Texas, and was redesignated Advanced Training Unit THREE (ATU-3). Late in 1952, ATU-3 became ATU-200. The squadron's mission consisted of training newly designated aviators in familiarization, formation tactics, instruments and navigation. ATU-200 was redesignated ATU-212 in June 1955, and with the new name, came the mission of all-weather flight training.
In February 1958, ATU-212 began replacing her TV's with the F9F-88 and F9F-8T "Cougar". At this time, the syllabus was expanded to include ordnance delivery, and shortly thereafter, carrier qualification.
On May 1960, ATU-212 was redesignated Training Squadron TWENTY-TWO (VT-22). In September 1970, VT-22 transitioned to the more modern TA-4J "Skyhawk", a two-seat version of the attack bomber employed by the Navy and Marine Corps in Vietnam.
On 1 July 1987, VT-22 became the first TA-4J squadron to use civilian contract maintenance.
In September 1994, the Golden Eagles became the second U.S. Navy training command squadron to transition from their TA-4J's to the McDonnell Douglas T-45A. A variant of the British "Hawk", the T-45A "Goshawk" is tandem-seat, carrier-borne jet specifically built for the training of Naval and Marine Corps Aviators.
The T-45 training system, which includes an advanced aircraft simulator, has enabled the T-45A to replace both the T-2C "Buckeye" and the TA-4J "Skyhawk", resulting in substantial training cost savings.
The primary mission of Training Squadron TWENTY-TWO is to conduct advanced and intermediate strike jet training for student naval aviators. The T-45 advanced strike flight training curriculum consists of 82 sorties totaling 101.5 hours and 53 simulator events totaling 74.5 hours of flight training. Flight training is sequenced into 13 distinct modules, which integrate academic instruction, flight support, simulator training and aircraft flights. Academics are composed of Aviation Student Indoctrination, Engineering, Aerodynamics, Instrument Navigation and Operational Navigation. Flight support and flight stages cover Cockpit Orientation, Aircrew Coordination Training, Course Rules, Emergency Procedures, Basic Instruments, Radio Instruments, Airways Navigation, Out-of-Control Flight, Familiarization, Instrument Rating, Formation, Night Flying, Operational Navigation (low-level training), Weapons, Section and Division Formation flying (day and night), Tactical Formation, Air Combat Maneuvering and Carrier Qualification.
The T-45 Total System (TS) curriculum encompasses all naval air jet training, replacing both the intermediate T-2C and advanced TA-4J curricula. TS syllabus consists of 119 sorties totaling 156 hours and 67 simulator events totaling 95.4 hours. This is the final stage of the strike training syllabus. Upon successful completion, Naval and Marine Corps officers are designated naval aviators and receive their coveted "Wings of Gold". In 1999, VT-22 proudly winged 74 Naval Aviators, 48 Navy and 26 Marine Corps. The flight skills and academic discipline acquired in the training command, framed around the strike mission philosophy, form the bedrock upon which will be built the detailed, mission-specific requirements of carrier-based power projection.
The "Golden Eagles" concluded 1999 having flown nearly 13,800 sorties totally 18,000 flight hours for the year. The squadron participated in six CQ detachments, qualifying 89 student naval aviators with 1020 carrier arrested landings and a 93% qualification rate. VT-22 also completed five weapons detachments, awarding 56 dive bombing "E's" and 8 ACM "E's".
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