page_title: VT-10
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: VT-10 / History
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Grumman TF-9J Cougar (BuNo 146405) of Training Squadron VT-10 at Naval Air Station Miramar, California (USA), in 1973. VT-10 was the last Cougar squadron and flew the TF-9J until 1974.
context_page_description: Training Squadron TEN is a training squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron is homebased at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
context_section_description: In 1960, Training Squadron TEN (VT-10) was established as a division of the Training Department of NAS Pensacola and was known as the Basic Naval Aviation Officers (BNAO) School.  BNAO was developed in response to (1) the increasing importance of navigator and radar operator-type flying officers in the latest generation of multi-seat naval aircraft such as the A-3 Skywarrior, A-5 Vigilante, A-6 Intruder, F-4 Phantom II and P-2 Neptune and (2) in order to create a more standardized training program that better approximated that given to Student Naval Aviators.  Until early 1962, BNAO was strictly a ground training operation for prospective Naval Aviation Observers who would receive follow on training at a Fleet Replacement Air Group (RAG) in an operational Fleet combat aircraft and would then receive their NAO wings following conclusion of a training syallbus.  Evaluating the lack of training aircraft in the BNAO syllabus as in adequate, the school was assigned nine UC-45J "Navigators" and six T-2A "Buckeyes" in February 1962.  The T-2As were soon replaced with nine T-1A "Sea Star" aircraft.  In 1965, Naval Aviation Observers were re-designated as Naval Flight Officers (NFOs), and in 1968, BNAO School was officially established as Training Squadron TEN (VT-10).
  By November 1970, Training Squadron TEN had trained over 6,000 student NFOs.  In 1971, Training Squadron TEN transitioned to the T-39D "Sabreliner" jet trainer and the TF-9J "Cougar" which was replaced two years later by the newer T-2C "Buckeye."
  The squadron doubled in size between 1972 and 1974 to accommodate an increased training requirement, maintaining 40 aircraft: ten T-39Ds and thirty T-2Cs.  During the 1970s several flight ground trainers were introduced to the syllabus, including the 1D23 NAV/comm trainer, the 2F90 instrument trainer, and the 2F101 flight simulator. In 1981, a reassignment of aircraft within NATRACOM replaced VT-10's T-2C aircraft with T-2Bs.  The squadron revised its training in 1984 and acquired twenty T-34C "Turbo Mentors"; and the Cessna T-47As replaced the T-39Ds in 1985.
  During 1991, revolutionary changes were made to the NFO syllabus.  To improve NFO air sense and situational awareness, forty additional flight hours were placed in the curriculum allowing instruction in basic piloting skills including aerobatics, takeoffs, and landings.  The same year, the squadron replaced the T-47A with the T-39N which had upgraded avionics and radar.  The T-2Bs and the air combat maneuvering syllabus were transferred to Training Squadron EIGHTY-SIX (VT-86).  At the same time VT-10 acquired twenty additional T-34Cs and two new 2B37 instrument trainers for primary and intermediate training.
  In 1994, the first U.S. Air Force instructors and student navigators (NAVs) reported to Training Squadron TEN under a joint memorandum of agreement between the services.  The agreement included the 1996 transition from the T-39N to the Air Force T-1A "Jayhawk" as the training platform for the Intermediate syllabus events.  In April 1996, VT-10 split instructor and student assets to assist in the establishment of Training Squadron FOUR (VT-4) as a second NFO/NAV Primary/Intermediate Training Squadron.  In 1999 the T-39G/N was re-integrated into the NFO intermediate training syllabus as the training platform for Navy and International Students with the T-1 remaining as the training platform for Air Force and Marine Corps Students.  In April 2004 VT-10 flew its last T-39G/N sortie with the T-1 taking over as the primary training platform for all VT-10 student NFO intermediate training syllabus flights. In October 2010, the T-39G/N replaced the T-1 in the NFO intermediate syllabus. On December 3, 2010, VT-4 was deactivated and VT-10 became the sole NFO primary and intermediate training squadron.
  VT-10 has a 60-member Navy and Marine Corps instructor staff that currently trains over 300 NFOs annually.  In 1997, command of VT-10 began alternating between Navy and Air Force Officers. That alternating command ceased when the Air Force ended the joint training at TRAWING 
caption: A VT-10 TF-9J Cougar at NAS Miramar, 1973.
exif: {}