- VFA-122
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron One Two Two
caption= VFA-122 Insignia
dates=January 15 ,1999 - Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=US Navy
type= Fighter / Attack
role= Introduce the Super Hornet to the fleet, train replacement personnel to fly and maintain the aircraft, and transition entire squadrons from "legacy" Hornets and Tomcats
size= 225 staff officers, 408 enlisted personnel, operate over 60 aircraft
command_structure=
garrison=Naval Air Station Lemoore CA
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equipment=F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet
equipment_label=
nickname= "Flying Eagles"
patron=
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colors=
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battles=
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current_commander= Commander "Doc" Harris
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
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identification_symbol_2_label=Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a
United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed atNaval Air Station Lemoore .History
There have been two distinct Navy squadrons known as the "Flying Eagles". The first was established in 1950 as VC-35, later redesignated VA(AW)-35, and then VA-122. This squadron flew various models of the
A-1 Skyraider atNAS San Diego andA-7 Corsair II atNAS Lemoore . In1971 the "Corsair College" changed its name to the "Flying Eagles", and continued to train pilots and maintainers for 20 years. In May1991 VA-122 was decommissioned. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons, but officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm] .In January
1999 a new "Flying Eagles" squadron was brought to life as Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), the first squadron to operate the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.Mission
As the West Coast Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron, the Flying Eagles' mission is to train Navy F/A-18E/F Replacement Pilots and
Weapon Systems Officer s (WSOs) to support fleet commitments. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly-winged Navy pilots andNaval Flight Officer s begins the 9 month training course in which they learn the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Hornet squadrons.VFA-122's East Coast counterpart isVFA-106 atNAS Oceana . VFA-122 is also responsible for transitioning experienced naval aviators from other aircraft, such as theF-14 Tomcat andS-3 Viking , to the Super Hornet. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments undergo refresher training at VFA-122 prior to returning to the fleet. Additionally, VFA-122 (with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit: CNATTTU) trains maintenance personnel and provides replacement aircraft to fleet units.VFA-122 currently has approximately 225 officers, 408 enlisted personnel and operates over 60 aircraft.The squadron often detaches aircraft toNaval Air Station Fallon ,Nevada andNaval Air Facility El Centro ,California , as well as various aircraft carriers for carrier qualifications (CQ).References
External links
* [http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/vfa-122/ VFA-122 Flying Eagles Home Page]
= See also =
*Naval aviation
*Modern US Navy carrier air operations
*List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) /List of US Naval aircraft
*United States Naval Aviator
*United States Marine Corps Aviation
*Military aviation
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
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