T-38s at Laughlin mark beginning of transition
by Kent Cummins
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
"This jet marks the beginning of Laughlin's transition to our newly acquired Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals mission," said Col. Mike Minahan, 47th Flying Training Wing commander.
Over the next six to eight months, Laughlin AFB will receive about 15 T-38s and approximately 15 T-6 Texan II aircraft from Moody AFB as the result of mission gains due to recent base realignment efforts.
The T-38s will be used to fulfill the base's new eight-week IFF course, which will be up and running by the summer of 2007. The course introduces pilots to air-to-air employment, air-to-surface attack and low-altitude navigation.
"The IFF course enhances Laughlin's training by providing an introductory fighter training course that better prepares pilots to fly their follow-on fighters such as the F-16 (Fighting Falcon), F-15 (Eagle) , A-10 (Thunderbolt II), and, in the future, the F-22 (Raptor) and F-35 (Lightning II)." said Col. Laro Clark, 47th FTW vice commander.
More planes also mean more people and a bigger economic impact for the region.
Over the next several months, about 180 Airmen and civilians will start calling the Del Rio area home. Including family members, it means about 400 new community members. This translates to a more than $11 million economic impact in just payroll and indirect jobs alone. Laughlin AFB's total economic impact for fiscal 2005 is valued at $228 million.
The new Introduction to Figher Fundamentals mission also will require expanded instructional facilities, additional training airspace and access to a no-drop bombing range.
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