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85th Flying Training Squadron wins T-6 Low-Level Competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan L. Maysonet
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Two instructors from the 85th Flying Training Squadron here took first place in the T-6 Texan II category of the Low-Level Competition held at Randolph Air Force Base Nov. 4.

Captain Joseph Morrin, 85th Flying Training Squadron assistant flight commander and 1st Lt. Taylor Wight, 85th FTS instructor, piloted the aircraft and were one of three teams representing Laughlin.

"The competition was designed to challenge ourselves as instructors," said Morrin. "No computer, just a map and basic info. You get the compass out and fly."

"It was a test to your background in what you learned in pilot training and what we learned here as instructors being new first assignment instructor pilots and as a team," said Wight.

Teams arrived the night before and were tasked with planning their flight by hand without the aid of software to perform all their calculations from time, distance and headings. They would fly the course at an altitude of 500 feet.

"It was challenging planning a low level flight since you spend so little time on it because of all the technology and flight planning software," said Morrin. "The only time you get to learn to plan a low level is during T-6 student academics and maybe your T-38 academics."

"We normally don't get a chance to go from point A to point B because we have standard routes we do on a daily basis," said Wight. "It is nice to try something new and plan it all out."

Competing aircrews were assessed on the precision of their radio transmissions, time on target and proper identification of the target on the ground.

In the end, Wight and Morrin came out on top representing not only their squadron and Laughlin but fellow FAIPs by going against pilots with more experience.

"All our flight time combined flying airplanes would barely equal one or two pilots we were against," said Morrin.

Lt. Col. Stephen Frank, 85th Flying Training squadron commander, was thankful for the chance the competition gave to Laughlin pilots to test themselves against their peers.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for our pilots to hone their skills and showcase our airman while building camaraderie with other AETC training bases."