VT-9
Encyclopedia
The VT-9 Tigers is one of four U.S. Navy strike jet training squadrons and one of two based at Naval Air Station Meridian
in Mississippi (The other two being based at Naval Air Station Kingsville
in Texas). U.S. Naval and Marine aviators are trained by the Tigers, along with aviators of the British, Spanish and Italian Navies. The current commanding officer of the squadron is CDR Craig Snyder. The squadron flies the T-45C Goshawk
, a derivative of the British BAE Hawk
jet aircraft. The students are initially trained in basic aviation skills such as navigation and instrument flying and progress through formation flying, low-level navigation, bombing, air combat maneuvering, and normally complete the syllabus by performing a series of landings on an aircraft carrier. The students then move on to fly a fighter and/or attack jet in their respective service.
Naval Air Station Meridian
Naval Air Station Meridian or NAS Meridian is a military airport located 11 miles northeast of Meridian, Mississippi in Lauderdale County and Kemper County, and is one of the Navy's two jet strike pilot training bases .-History:On July 16, 1957, the first shovel of earth was thrown, marking the...
in Mississippi (The other two being based at Naval Air Station Kingsville
Naval Air Station Kingsville
Naval Air Station Kingsville or NAS Kingsville is a military airport located 3 miles east of Kingsville, Texas.Under the current US Navy organization known as Commander, Naval Installations , NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville are part of Navy Region Southeast headquartered at NAS Jacksonville,...
in Texas). U.S. Naval and Marine aviators are trained by the Tigers, along with aviators of the British, Spanish and Italian Navies. The current commanding officer of the squadron is CDR Craig Snyder. The squadron flies the T-45C Goshawk
T-45 Goshawk
|-Avionics:Data from naval-technology.com *Smiths Industries, Ltd. AN/USN-2 Standard Attitude Heading and Reference System . Later replaced by the BAE/Marconi AN/ASN-180 Navigation Guidance System ....
, a derivative of the British BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
jet aircraft. The students are initially trained in basic aviation skills such as navigation and instrument flying and progress through formation flying, low-level navigation, bombing, air combat maneuvering, and normally complete the syllabus by performing a series of landings on an aircraft carrier. The students then move on to fly a fighter and/or attack jet in their respective service.
External links
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons