LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE,Va. –
An integrated team of nearly 100 Langley personnel such as F-15C Eagle pilots, crew chiefs and avionics specialists left Oct. 25 for Nellis Air Force base, Nev., to help train instructor pilots attending the weapons instructor course held there.
During their three-week stay the 71st Fighter Squadron pilots will assist the F-16 school by flying "red air," said Capt. Peter "Sly" Liggieri, 71st FS pilot.
"Langley pilots will primarily provide threat aircraft replication for the WIC syllabus missions," said Capt. Jeremy "Maddog" Lushnat, 71st FS chief of weapons and tactics. "However, on select sorties the 71st FS will integrate and train with the Weapons School squadrons as 'blue air,' or F-15Cs in an air superiority role."
The weapons instructor course teaches graduate-level pilots about the world's most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment.
Once an instructor pilot graduates from WIC, they return to their home base and teach other squadron pilots on the advanced training and weapons they learned, according to Captain Liggieri. They are also used for all upgrade training such as mission qualification training for new pilots and upgrading veteran pilots so they can command two- or four- ship flight leads.
WIC candidates are nominated based on humility, approachability and credibility, said Captain Lushnat. If an IP wants to attend WIC they must have at least two years experience and 50-plus hours of instruction time in the F-15C Eagle to be eligible.
"Langley's presence enables Air Force officers attending the USAF Weapons School to experience the most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment in the world," said Captain Lushnat. "Based on the knowledge and skill sets garnered from WIC; graduates are then able to effectively prepare their units for combat."
"The cross-talk, integration efforts and training environment will have an invaluable impact on our day-to-day training back at Langley," said Captain Lushnat.