New class of fighter pilots ready to hit skies

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Gerald Lanagan
  • 62nd Fighter Squadron commander
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Fourteen wide-eyed aviators entered the 62nd Fighter Squadron "Spikes" July 17, 2006, for Air Force F-16 initial qualification training.  They hailed from all parts  of the country and walks of life, but had one goal in common - to become the world's best fighter pilots.

They began the demanding  course by gulping from the fire hose of knowledge during seemingly endless hours of academics and flight simulators.  After a month of intense ground training, the momentous day arrived and they embarked on their first flight in the mighty F-16.  After five sorties with white-knuckled instructors in the back seat of the two-seat "family-model" F-16D, they made their first solo flight in the single-seat F-16C.

As the course progressed, missions continued to increase in intensity and complexity.  Students were tested early as they learned to dogfight and air-to-air refuel.  Soon they progressed to multi-ship air-to-air tactical maneuvering and employing as a team.

After demonstrating proficiency in air-to-air tactics, they shifted gears and focused their attention on the bread and butter mission of the F-16 - putting bombs on target.  First they mastered basic gunnery skills, then combined bomb-dropping with air-to-air tactics.

They learned to successfully fight their way through airborne adversaries into a target area, drop bombs and fight their way out.  The course culminated with two separate combat training exercises:  "Operation Trojan Warrior" and "Operation Rabid Boxer."  During Trojan Warrior, students deployed to Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield where they were exposed to a "simulated" air base typical of today's combat zones.  They flew close air support sorties and worked with forward air controllers from 310th FS "Tophats" and joint terminal attack controllers on the ground to find and destroy "enemy" targets.  During Rabid Boxer, the students flew on complex 14-ship strike packages to engage the enemy in a simulated air campaign.  Each day these operations simulated real world taskings faced by fellow F-16 pilots engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The graduation of class 06-IBC would not be possible without the dedicated support of all 56th Fighter Wing agencies.  Special thanks goes to members of the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 56th Maintenance Group, who delivered combat ready aircraft day in and day out, generating more than 2,500 sorties during the course of training.  While class 06-IBC appreciates all the hard work and dedication of every man and woman in the 62nd AMU, they selected Airman First Class Alex McGarvey as the top crew chief.

Twelve fighter pilots will walk across the stage today at the Luke Officer's' Club to receive their graduation certificates.  This ending is simply another beginning.  Now equipped with the knowledge and skills required of a fighter pilot, they will travel to the corners of the earth to defend the freedom of this great nation and to fight and win the global war on terror.