Navy Training Aircraft Find New Life at Local College

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120208-06
2/8/2012

From Chief of Naval Air Training Public Affairs

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- Navy officials donated two T-34 training aircraft that have been in the Navy for more than 60 years combined to Del Mar College Feb. 6.

Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore presented the logbooks for the aircraft to Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College president, during a ceremony at the Corpus Christi International Airport.

The aircraft will provide hands-on training to students in the College's Aviation Maintenance and Avionics Programs, ensuring that quality aircraft maintenance continues in south Texas.

"The Navy's generosity and vision will impact Del Mar College's Aviation Maintenance and Avionics students as they expand their skills with hands-on instruction using the aircraft we're accepting today," said Escamilla. "We're very excited about the new educational and workforce development opportunities these aircraft will provide to future workers and employers in the Texas Coastal Bend."

The two aircraft are the first Del Mar College has received from the Navy since the DMC Aviation Maintenance Program began in 2001.

The two T-34C Turbo-Mentor aircraft, together, flew more than 30,000 hours with the older plane accepted by the Navy in December 1976 and the younger serving the Navy since December 1983.