New training route for Dutch pilots at Sheppard AFB
For decades the route for Dutch candidate pilots via Sheppard Air Force Base has been a familiar one. After completing the elementary flight education (Elementaire Militaire Vlieger Opleiding (EMVO)) at Woensdrecht airbase and the training in America, you became a fighter pilot on the F-16. That certainty changed a few years ago. Frank Visser visited the Dutch detachment of the Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) part of the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Texas to talk about these changes. During his two days of interviews and photo shoots, he had the opportunity to join the pilots on a T-38C Talon flight.
A sneak photo preview of this incredible two days visit is presented on our website.
For the first flying phase at Sheppard AFB, the so-called Basic Pilot Training, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is used. After 15 flights the student pilots go solo.
After their first flying phase pilots go to the next phase on the T-38C Talon. After succesfully completing this phase the Dutch jet pilots go to the 148th Fighter Squadron at Tucson International Airport for their F-16 training.
The complete will soon be published in Air International magazine.