Description

VT-28 Rangers Patch – Sew On

• 4″ patch
• Embroidered
• US Naval Aviator Owned Business
• Sew On
• Plastic Backing (increases rigidity; the patch lasts longer and stays flat)
• Reproduction

The VT-28 “Rangers” is a U.S. Navy primary flight training squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

History

VT-28 was initially established as Advanced Training Unit 611 (ATU-611).[1] The Rangers began as an advanced multi-engine training squadron flying the S2F-1T, a training variant of the Grumman S-2 Tracker. On May 1, 1960 ATU-611 was redesignated VT-28 and in September 1962 its aircraft was redesignated the TS-2A in accordance with the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system.

After decades of use and the designation of thousands of Naval Aviators, the TS-2A was replaced with the T-44A Pegasus twin-engine turboprop trainer in 1979. VT-28 continued training advanced multi-engine aviators until 1990 when the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) reassigned the squadron to be responsible for training instructors and updating training syllabi for the T-44A and T-34C Turbo Mentor. Three years later, CNATRA again reassigned VT-28, this time to be the Navy’s fifth primary training squadron flying the T-34C Turbo Mentor. In 2013 the squadron began its transition from the T-34C to the Navy’s newest primary flight trainer, the Beechcraft T-6B Texan II

Aircraft

S2F-1T / TS-2A Tracker – Advanced multi-engine (1960-1979)
T-44A King Air – Advanced multi-engine (1979-1993)
T-34C Turbo Mentor – Primary flight training (1990-2013)
T-6B Texan II – Primary flight training (2013 to present)

Training Squadron TWO-EIGHT was commissioned on May 1, 1960 under the leadership of Commanding Officer, Commander O. T. Knight. Prior to that, VT-28 operated as Advanced Training Unit 611. The primary mission of VT-28 was advanced multi-engine flight training for Student Naval Aviators (SNA’s). Over 6,000 Naval Aviators have been trained by VT-28 before assignment to fixed wing, multi-engine squadrons. This curriculum has evolved over the years in response to the changing need to the Navy and advances in aviation technology.

VT-28 quickly established a standard of excellence which has continued unabated for 35 years. With 44 instructors, 48 TS-2F “Tracker” aircraft, 400 enlisted personnel and an average on board student count of 125, VT-28 set new training, safety, and cost efficiency records in its first ten months of operation. During the 1960’s, as the demand for fixed wing maritime pilots increased, so did the scope and responsibility of Training Squadron TWO-EIGHT.

By the mid-sixties, the flight syllabus, augmented by simultaneous ground training, had expanded to include Familiarization, Basic and Radio Instrument Navigation, Cross County, Night Familiarization and Carrier Qualification. The TS-2F “Tracker” proved itself a most reliable and stable training platform during periods of changes in the syllabus and increased requirements. In 1969 alone, nearly 300 Naval Aviators were designated and 40,000 aircraft hours flown by VT-28. The squadron carrier qualified or “CQ’d” thousands of Student Naval Aviators in the “Tracker” until its retirement in 1979 when it was replaced by the T-44A on March 1st of that year.

The squadron continued to train Advanced Maritime Student Naval Aviators in the T-44A aircraft until 1990, at which time CNATRA directed the squadron to change its mission and become the first Instructor Training Squadron. VT-28 then assumed the responsibility for all instructor training within Training Air Wing FOUR as well as Instructor Standardization, Functional Check Flights, and course curriculum oversight in both the T-34C and the T-44A aircraft.

On April 1, 1993, VT-28 changed its mission once again; this time to provide Primary/Intermediate Maritime and Helicopter instruction to Student Naval Aviators while flying the T-34C. In the first months as CNATRA’s fifth Primary Squadron, VT-28 continued to set the standard for training excellence, flying over 20,230 mishap free flight hours and graduating over 200 primary students and over 100 intermediate students.

With the mission change, a new squadron patch was designed. The new patch depicts the silhouette of a Texas Ranger mounted on a rearing horse. Flying over the Ranger is an aircraft leaving a patriotic contrail. This patch symbolizes the proud tradition of VT-28’s nickname and radio call sign, “Ranger,” as well as the pride the squadron possesses for its new mission and its country.