LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In the cockpit of a T-6A Texan II, thousands of feet above the West Texas desert, one instructor pilot (IP) reached a milestone that few in the Air Force ever do: 3,000 flight hours in a single aircraft.
On June 5, members of Team XL gathered to witness Lt. Col. Danny Yawn, 96th Flying Training Squadron director of operations, complete the sortie that officially placed him in elite company. According to base records, he is only the second IP in the 96th FTS’ history to surpass the 3,000-hour mark in the T-6, joining Lt. Col. Kevin “Swervin” Waterman in the 96th Flying Training Squadron’s (FTS) legacy.
“This is a monumental accomplishment,” said Lt. Col. Andy Calhoun, 96th FTS commander. “3,000 hours in the T-6, training the world’s best pilots, is earned through years of early briefings, late night sorties, weekend cross-country missions, sweating in the Del Rio sun on double and triple turns and countless more hours behind the scenes training future aviators to be the best possible combat-ready pilots. Lt. Col. Yawn leads by example and sets the standard for the 47th Flying Training Wing’s mission.”
Yawn began his journey at Laughlin in 2007 as a member of Class 07-12. His performance as a student earned him a position as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP), a role he has embodied ever since.
The 3,000th hour sortie began feeling different than any other previously.
“I got the opportunity to hit the 3,000-hour mark with a long-time friend/mentor, Jake ‘Rocky’ Hostetler,” said Yawn. “Rocky is currently a T-6 civilian sim instructor at Laughlin, and former T-6 IP in the 96th FTS. Airborne and approaching the mark in an otherwise uneventful flight, Rocky brought some levity and scope to the approaching accomplishment in asking a range of questions… ‘I wonder how much time you have spent briefing/debriefing? I wonder how many times you have done Traffic Pattern Stalls? Etc.’”
As the Director of Operations for the 96th FTS, Yawn is responsible for scheduling sorties, overseeing mission execution, and ensuring training goals are met across the board.
“Danny is out front, leading our squadron each and every day, setting the example for others to follow,” said Calhoun. “He’s involved in every mission set of the T-6, from student production, functional check flights, Academic Instructor Course Instructor and T-6 Pilot Instructor Training (PIT).”
With nearly two decades of flying and instructing behind him, Yawn reflected on what has made the journey worthwhile.
“Contagious attitude and work ethic,” said Yawn. “Over the years, students and fellow instructors continue to bring a great attitude and a strong desire to improve their skills each sortie. Furthermore, some jobs can become routine and mundane, but there is always something new to teach and something new to learn in the UPT environment.”
Beyond the numbers, Calhoun emphasized the impact Yawn has had on the pilot training pipeline. With an estimated 2,300 sorties flown, that’s 2,300 opportunities to shape Airmen who now fly and lead across the force.
“Over the course of more than 2,300 T-6 sorties accumulating 3,000 T-6 hours, Lt. Col. Yawn has firmly established himself as the premier T-6 expert at Laughlin ,” said Calhoun. “His impact has been instrumental in graduating thousands of students since 2007, many of whom are now leading throughout our Air Force.”
Yawn’s story is especially rooted in the Del Rio community. Born at Laughlin while his father underwent pilot training, Yawn now gives back to the same community through volunteer work, coaching youth soccer and serving as a leader in his church.
“My parents both served in the Air Force and inspired me to join,” said Yawn. “The people I serve with inspire me to stay. I’m thankful for my wife and kids for joining me on this ride.”
His leadership philosophy, according to Calhoun, is simple but powerful: never ask someone to do a job you wouldn’t do yourself.
“Lt Col Yawn is the kind of leader who won’t ask someone to do a job he isn’t willing to do himself,” said Calhoun. “He takes our mission seriously and has demonstrated that over countless years while assigned to Laughlin, both on active duty and as a Reservist.”
After reaching this milestone, Yawn is still focused on what matters most: his students and the mission.
“The focus remains the same, provide quality instruction as we continue to train the Air Force’s newest pilots,” said Yawn.
Reflecting on the journey, Yawn admits the milestone once felt impossible.
“I became a T-6 FAIP at Laughlin in 2007. Like many FAIPs, I really wanted to reach the 1,000-hour mark. It’s a realistic goal to achieve in a roughly 3-year assignment. When I returned as a Reservist in 2017 after assignments in the C-130 and C-37/C-20, the previous flying pace as a FAIP wasn’t possible. At approximately 1.4 hours per sortie, reaching 3,000 hours seemed years and years away and far from a realistic outcome.”
As Team XL celebrates this rare achievement, Yawn’s story serves as a reminder that excellence isn’t about one flight; it’s about showing up every day with purpose, humility and dedication to the mission.