T-54A NAS Whidbey Island Visit

Photo By Lt. Sara Wedemeyer | OAK HARBOR, Wash. (March 27, 2025) A T-54A Marlin, assigned to Training Wing Four, taxis while the pilot monitoring gives a shaka at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wa. March 27 2025. A pair of T-54As arrived at NAS Whidbey Island Mar. 27 after completing their first cross-country flight to Washington State, showcasing the range capacity as the Navy’s newest multi-engine trainer. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Sara Wedemeyer)  

OAK HARBOR, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

03.27.2025

Story by Lt. Sara Wedemeyer 

Chief of Naval Air Training

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash - A pair of T-54As arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Mar. 27 after completing their first cross-country flight to Washington State, showcasing the range capacity as the Navy’s newest multi-engine trainer.

This cross country was used as training flights within the Flight Instructor Training Unit (FITU) Syllabus. The Instructors Under Training (IUTs), taught by FITU Instructor Pilots (IPs), will be the next generation of squadron IPs and the first to teach student naval aviators how to fly the T-54A.

Lieutenant Hunter Jones, one of the visiting naval aviators, believes the T-54A will make a difference in the lives of student naval aviators at Training Wing Four, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

“We are thrilled to begin training the next generation of pilots in the T-54A, a platform that will significantly enhance our ability to prepare naval aviators for the challenges ahead,” said Jones. “Flying the T-54A from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island truly demonstrates its capabilities. Students are set to start training on the new plane in the next few weeks and this milestone would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership of Cdr. Michael “Textron” Brammer and the entire Multi Engine Training System (METS) FIT Team at Training Wing Four. Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in ensuring the seamless transition to this aircraft.”

The T-54A fleet is located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi as a member of Training Wing Four. The Navy’s newest generation of student naval aviators will use the T-54A to earn their wings of gold and go on to fly aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon, E-2D Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey, E6-B Mercury, and the C-130 Hercules.

• Date Taken: 03.27.2025
• Date Posted: 04.18.2025 15:17
• Story ID: 495687
• Location: OAK HARBOR, WASHINGTON, US