“In practice, the students in Class 21-06 received more instructional time through a combination of flight and simulator hours than students in the current UPT program. Robert Moschella, 12th Operations Group commander. “Taking lessons learned from Pilot Training Next, the goal, to produce the same caliber of pilots and enable them to enter formal training earlier and with an increased skill set,” said Col. UPT 2.5 is one of the initiatives that all make up pilot training transformation. “We completed a very difficult program and I am honored to have been on the ground floor of UPT 2.5 and pilot training transformation,” said 1st Lt. Nathanial Welch, a graduate pilot who is now headed to Detachment 24 at JBSA-Randolph, where he will learn fighter fundamentals. “It feels amazing having graduated, best feeling in the world,'' said 2nd Lt. Graduates of Class 21-06 came from a wide range of Air Force talent, from second lieutenants with only initial flight training skills to seasoned Air Force captains with remotely piloted aircraft and cyber warfare experience.
Using the T-6A Texan II as the primary trainer aircraft, the first class completed training in only seven months. Instructors from the 559th Flying Training Squadron implemented training for Air Education and Training Command’s first UPT 2.5 class, which began in July 2020. It was a day of historical significance as 10 new Air Force pilots received their wings after graduating from the first Undergraduate Pilot Training 2.5 program March 19, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS). 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs.