Recently I had the opportunity to visit the home of the World Famous Boomers. One of just five Navy primary training squadrons, VT-27 role is primary training for Navy and Marine aviators.
Training Squadron TWENTY-SEVEN was established on July 11, 1951 at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi. The command moved a year later to NAS, Kingsville, Texas then again in 1960 to NAS, New Iberia, Louisiana where the squadron was redesignated VT-27. The Boomers returned "home" to NAS, Corpus Christi in July 1964.
Commander Kyle Gatzmeyer, escorted me around the squadron to view the aircraft and flight operations. He has over 3, 000 flight hours in numerous military and civilian aircraft, including over 1500 hours in the UH-3H Sea King.
The T-34B was developed in the 1950's as a primary training aircraft for both the United States Navy and Air Force. It was used from 1955 to 1976. In 1978 the turbo-prop version entered service with the Navy.
In August 1983, the squadron took delivery of the first the Beechcraft T-34C Turbo Mentor which has been the mainstay of the Navy and Marine Corps primary flight training.
One of the latest upgrades to the T-34C was the addition of GPS capability.
On the flight line, Runway Duty Officers are assigned in the "RDO shack" to monitor each take off, approach and landing. The RDOs check to make sure landing gear is down and observe students on solo flights.
Getting ready for take-off, this student is accompanied by an instructor pilot in the back seat.
Solo student performing "touch and go" landings.
The "Boomers" average well over 11,000 training missions a year, and more than 70 sorties per training day.
Special thanks to Skipper Gatzmeyer for an amazing visit with the World Famous Boomers!
To see more images from my visit please click on the link below: The Slideshow
To view the entire aviation collection of books, prints and posters please visit: The Store
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