Air Force Retires T1-Alpha Training Aircraft

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- The US Air Force is saying goodbye to the T1-Alpha training aircraft. The 451st Flying Training Squadron at NAS Pensacola held a special 'Sunset Party' to celebrate its legacy on Friday....

"The T1-Alpha is the training aircraft that's used for all portions of advanced undergraduate combat systems officer training," says Lt. Col Joshualee Lancaster. He tells Newsradio that seven of the T1's were still in use at NAS Pensacola and are being retired to switch to the T-96 simulator training system.

"It has a... little bit more than 180-degrees screen field of view, and it has all of the aircraft controls." Lancaster says the switch will save a lot of money in aircraft maintenance and will be safer as they can control all the variables, such as weather.

"It enables us to better produce cizzos for the United States Air Force, and to more continuously forge warfighters for the United States of America."

The retired T1's will be taken to Arizona and put in storage at Davis-Montham Air Force Base.

One of seven T1-A aircraft being retired from service.

Friday's Sunset Celebration

The sunset celebration on Friday was festive, as personnel from the 451st Flying Training Squadron at NAS Pensacola celebrated the T1's legacy. They enjoyed food, drinks, and music from a band comprised of fellow Air Force servicemembers.

The celebration included a piano burning -- a tradition started by the British Royal Air Force either in World War I or World War II, depending on which version of the origin story you hear.

Airmen enjoy the reception and music from "The Red X's -- a band comprised of fellow Air Force servicemembers.