Something Old, Something New

Cockpit of a T-34

Aileron Roll

Loop

Half Cuban Eight

Wing Over

Barrel Roll

 These are some of what a T-34 is capable of doing at the hands (and feet) of a Navy Ensign ⁽¹⁾ learning to fly. Aerobatics is another skill that is acquired during Primary Flight School.⁽²⁾  What will they do next? See below the list of training stages.
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⁽¹⁾ Ensign is enseigne in French, Fähnrich in German, and chorąży in Polish, each of which derives from a term for a flag. The Spanish alférez and Portuguese alferes is a junior officer rank below lieutenant associated with carrying the flag, and so is often translated as "ensign". Unlike the rank in other languages, its etymology has nothing to do with flags.

⁽²⁾ Primary Flight Training. Following API completion, SNAs are assigned to Primary Flight Training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida or NAS Corpus Christi, Texas where they learn to fly the T-34C Turbo Mentor (NAS Whiting Field has already begun transitioning to the T-6B). A small percentage of SNAs attend Primary Flight Training with the United States Air Force flying the T-6A Texan II (JPATS) at Vance AFB, Oklahoma as part of a joint USN-USAF training effort. Primary teaches the SNA the basics of flying, is approximately six months long, and is divided into the following stages:

• Ground School (aircraft systems, local course rules, emergency procedures)
• Familiarization (take-off/landing, limited maneuvers, spins)
• Basic Instruments (common instrument scans, used during maneuvers)
• Precision Aerobatics (aileron roll, loop, 1/2 Cuban Eight, barrel roll, wingover, Split S, Immelmann)
• Formation (basic section flight, cruise formation flight)
• Radio Instrument Navigation
• Night Familiarization
• Visual Navigation