Student pilot ejects
during training flight

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
July 13, 2004
A student pilot is recovering today after he safely ejected from his T-45C "Goshawk" during a routine training mission at Naval Air Station Meridian on Monday.
The student, whose name was not released, was from Training Squadron 7 and was training in one the base's 87 T-45Cs. He was preparing to land on the south runway at about 10:55 a.m. when NAS Meridian officials say he was forced to abandon the jet.
Junkins said the student was "walking around" shortly after the accident and was sent to an on-base medical clinic for evaluation.
Capt. Daniel Ouimette, commander of Training Air Wing 1, said "people are our most important asset here at NAS Meridian."
The accident happened a day before NAS Meridian is set to bid farewell to its last T-2C "Buckeyes" which the T-45C replaced as a training aircraft.
A brief ceremonial farewell of the final T-2C flight is scheduled today at NAS Meridian's McCain Field. Lt. Rob Connors, Lt. Floyd Williams, Lt. Cmdr. Graham Cox and Cmdr. Todd Griffin will pilot the last flight.
Last month, 1st Lt. Dan Stoner was the last student to fly the T-2C.
The T-2C has been the workhorse of Navy pilot training for 40 years. More than 11,000 students have completed training in the T-2C while in pursuit of their "wings of gold."