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UPT Phase III

June 2004

Can you believe that? Phase II is the beginning of actual aircraft training after the initial barrage of academics. This is a picture of my first flight during UPT. They pretty much stick to the basics when you're starting out. Just kidding! These are some of our brothers and sisters doing the amazing things they do in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The reason I don't really have a whole lot here is because I haven't actually begun this part of my training. I'll let you know what I do know:

Phase II is also called primary training. It is the first time you actually step into a plane, in my case the T-6A Texan II. Over the course of 23 weeks, 250+ hours of ground training, 25+ hours of simulator rides and 90 hours of flying, you are instructed on the basics of flight. This includes: flight characteristics, emergency procedures, take offs and landings, aerobatics, formation flying and instrument/night flying. I've heard that during this period you find out what you really want to fly. I can say right now that I want to fly F-16s or A-10s, but I can't really be sure until I experience aerobatics or formation flying. My attitude is that I am going to simply go into this doing the best I can so that I don't have to worry about what I want to fly until I actually have to choose. I also constantly remind myself that it doesn't matter what I fly...I'm still living a dream.

If you have any questions or comments, e-mail me at TRWeinert@hotmail.com.