RAPCON were lucky to get a base visit with Public Affairs at Whiting field on 5th May 2011. Our host took us on a comprehensive visit to all the parts of the facility where there are aircraft including a visit to a presentation hall where 2 preserved aircraft rarely seen hang from the ceiling and we are grateful for his time in allowing us this experience.
History of Whiting Field
Established as a Naval Aviation Auxiliary Station in July 1943, Whiting Field has served as a training facility throughout.It is said to be the busiest Naval Air Station in the world with over 1200 personel completing their essential flight training yearly and has over 10% of Navy and Marine Corps total flight time. Its present mission is to train student naval aviators in the primary and intermediate phases of fixed-wing aviation and in the advanced phases of helicopter training. NAS whiting Field and TAW 5 have an outstanding and unmatched safe flying record
The installation hosts Training Wing Five (TRAWING5) with its fixed-wing training squadrons VT-2 ( Doer Birds), VT-3 (Red Knights), VT-6 (Shooters) and helicopter training squadrons HT-8(Eight Ballers), HT-18 (Vigilant Eagles) and HT-28 (Hellions)
Fixed Wing Operations
Beech T-34C Mentor
This is still the basic primary fixed-wing training aircraft despite its age and many of these aircraft were on view to photograph. The aircraft are pooled and each squadron draws on the pool of aircraft. VT-3 and VT-6 are the main users of the T-34C but VT-2 have a small number
T-6B Texan II
Operated By VT-2 this newer training aircraft is used for the intermediate stages of fixed-wing training and again many were on the flightline to see with many departing on trainig missions as we watched
Bell TH-57C
The only helicopter used for trainig at Whiting Field were ligned up in great numbers on two adjoining pans and again the aircraft are pooled and used by all squadrons. Many were in the air on our visit which included a climb up the tower to look down on the pans from above
After a quick visit to the preserved aircraft we said goodbye and grateful thanks to our host