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The Red Hawks
U.S. Navy’s Premiere Advanced Training Squadron
By Russ Albertson
Lieutenant Junior Grade Wes Tanner breaks away from us landing at NAS Kingsville. (Russ Albertson)VT-21, the “Red Hawks,” is one of the US Navy’s premiere advanced training squadrons, located at NAS Kingsville in southern Texas. Along with VT-22, this base is home to Training Air Wing 2 and provides advanced jet training for new Navy and Marine Aviators.
VT-21 has its roots in training squadron ATU-202, which was established in 1951 flying the Grumman F-6F Hellcat. ATU-202 was designated VT-21 in 1960 and since then the squadron has operated the Grumman F-9F Panther, Grumman F-9F8 Cougar, and the Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.
Presently the Red Hawks, along with VT-22, operate approximately 107 McDonnell Douglas/ British Aerospace T-45 Goshawks at NAS Kingsville. The Goshawk was chosen to replace the aging Rockwell T-2 Buckeye and the Douglas TA-4 Skyhawk. The T-45 is a British designed aircraft based on the Hawker Siddeley Hawk that was first flown in 1974 as an advanced jet trainer for the Royal Air Force. In 1977, Hawker Siddeley merged with British Aerospace and continues to produce the Hawk.
Splash In!
By Russ Albertson
Clear Lake, California provided a perfect setting and beautiful weather for this year’s annual Splash In. (Russ Albertson)The West Coast Seaplane Association’s annual “Splash In” was held at Clear Lake, Calif. in September, 2011 and was certainly the place to be if you have an interest in some fun aviation! “Splash In” is the perfect description for this event that attracted seaplane pilots and fans from as far away as British Colombia.
More than thirty seaplanes arrived over the weekend to participate in the activities and perfect weather at Lakeport, on the west side of Clear Lake. The city allows the association to utilize an inactive high school athletic field located at the water’s edge with a short dirt ramp to the beach. It was great fun to watch various planes land in the water, lower their landing gear as they approached the beach and taxi right up onto the grass field. Amphibious seaplanes, equipped with retractable wheels, certainly add a great versatility to the adventures possible for these pilots. Buoys and docks were also available to planes not equipped with wheels.
Miramar Air Show 2010
Never Fails To Impress
By Russ Albertson
Blue Angels beautiful Echelon formation. (Russ Albertson)The Miramar Air Show is always something to look forward to, even if it means the end of summer here in San Diego. This year it took place on Oct. 1, 2, and 3, and although we had a little fog and drizzle, it was still one of the best shows on the West coast.
Low Flying with the Swift Intruders
By Russ Albertson
Close pass by LCAC 33 (Mel Turner)
“Just because you don’t have wings, doesn’t mean you can’t fly.” The US Navy’s hovercraft designated the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) is the perfect example of this. This machine combines the qualities of a boat and a helicopter. It can hover on land or water, float or fly across the wave tops.
The LCAC was built to fill the Navy’s need for rapid delivery of men and equipment from ships to shore. This craft can carry up to 75 tons of cargo or vehicles at 60 knots up to the beach and even further inland if needed. It can fly over wet or marshy ground, and snow and ice or no barriers as long as the surface is fairly flat.