FLIGHT TEST: Airmen Fly New Planes in Next Phase of Training

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third story in a regular series by WCBI Reporter/Anchor Emily Cassulo following the lives of young airmen as they begin a year of pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — WCBI continues to look at 22 Columbus Air Force Base student pilots with class 15-07, as they complete their year of training.

WCBI told you about the academic Phase I, and Phase II, when they first learned how to fly.

Now the group has started Phase III of their training, where they’re flying new planes – some even helicopters.

They’ve learned the basics. Now these student pilots are enhancing their flying skills.

“You feel a little more like a big kid this time around, versus when you’re in a T-6, I guess,” said 2nd Lt. Christian Minnick, student pilot.

The students first spend some time in academics, and simulator instruction. Then they get to fly their new plane.

Some of the students are learning how to fly the T-1, where they have to work as a team.

“Phase III now, we’re getting them ready to go fly the major weapons systems that the Air Force has,” said Lt. Col. Steve Odum, instructor pilot. “In our case, tanker and transport aircraft for the most part. And we’re teaching them that crew concept that they haven’t gotten flying solo, and just how to operate a bigger, more complex aircraft.”

Odum has been an instructor pilot in Columbus for about four years, and says he’s always impressed to see the progress his students make.

“Everybody’s going to have a little trouble the first time through, but it’s amazing to watch the difference, you know, three or four months from now, you won’t recognize them,” Odum said.

“It’s kind’ve amazing how much progress we can make in just a couple short flights, ’cause learning a whole new aircraft – especially for somebody like me – it’s not easy to do,” Minnick said. “So the fact that the instructor pilots trust us to go back up there with two inexperienced pilots this time, versus one in the T-6, that’s pretty impressive on their part.”

In this phase, not all student pilots are assigned to the T-1.

They can also fly the T-38, which trains them for fighters.

Others, like 2nd Lt. Katherine Danno, sometimes get the chance to train on helicopters at a base in Alabama.

“I’ve been really wanting helicopters ever since I came to Columbus for pilot training, so I got really lucky with my training,” Danno said. “I had really great instructor pilots, good training, and was able that there was a position for me.”

But some students tell WCBI they’re happy to train on the T-1, which was their first choice.

“I love working as a team with other members in the cockpit, and kind’ve flying larger, more advanced aircraft, and that’s kind’ve what I’ve always been about when I started this,” said 2nd Lt. Andy Hart, student pilot.

Both Hart and Minnick say they were a little nervous during their first flights in the T-1, but they’re already getting used to it.

“She takes a little more motivation to move around than the T-6, but that’s OK,” Minnick said. “You just have to be deliberate with what you’re trying to do. But I’m sure once we learn how to operate the aircraft, and we understand how to use all the instruments and everything, it’ll be a lot easier, and she’ll practically fly herself.”

Class 15-07 has come a long way in their training, but they still have a long way to go.

“In the last two phases though, we’re going to have them traveling all over the southeast, and sampling the cuisine in various places throughout the nav phase, and the mission fundamentals phase at the end,” Odum said.

And while they get to visit and experience new places, Hart and Minnick say they’re looking forward to graduating next spring, the most.

Class 15-07 will continue to have plenty of flights on their new planes over the next few months.

They’ll then find out their next assignment in March.