An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

B-course trains A-list pilots

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Reel
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 43rd Fighter Squadron was the first squadron to receive the F-22 Raptor and is the primary training location for F-22 pilots.

The squadron is responsible for providing air dominance training for the world's newest fighter jet--the F-22.

The 43rd FS hosts the basic course, or B-course, which teaches F-22 lead-in graduates how to takeoff, navigate and land the Raptor in a clear or cloudy environment.

"Students learn how to intercept and execute the enemy in several situations," said Capt. Chris Sweeney, 43rd FS B-Flight commander. "This includes attacking a ground target, protecting a ground target and protecting friendly aircraft, such as an F-15 Eagle or B-2 Spirit.

"Ultimately they will be ready to complete mission qualification training at their operational unit and if needed, fight the nation's wars."

There are approximately six to nine students in a class, which lasts eight months. The 43rd FS houses approximately four B-course classes throughout the year, which means at least two classes are taking place at any given time.

"A typical day starts with the students showing up to an academic class, a simulator or a briefing before 7 a.m.," said 1st Lt. Andrew Van Timmeren, 43rd FS B-course student. "It usually takes up half, if not more, of the day. The second half of the day, we would have one of the three we didn't have in the morning."

"This training includes 335 academic hours, 205 academics events, 27 examinations, 50 sorties and 55 simulator missions," said Captain Sweeney. "The B-course entails conversion, emergency, instrument tasks and day and night air-to-air refueling. The students are also educated on basic low altitude employment, night and night vision goggle employment, air-to-ground and air-to-air mission tasks."

At course completion, students have flown approximately 55 hours and are qualified to employ the F-22 in an air dominance role.

"The greatest challenge of the B-course is the 'fire hose' of information," Lieutenant Van Timmeren. "However, the information is presented to us in a logical way, making the course that much better."

Prior to the B-course, Lieutenant Van Timmeren, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., where he was selected to fly the F-22.

From Vance, he went to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, to attend Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. After he completed the IFF course he went to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., to train in the Raptor Lead-in course.

"I was blessed to be 'dropped' a Raptor at undergraduate pilot training," said Lieutenant Van Timmeren. "I look forward to waking up every morning and going into work [43rd FS] because I love what I do. My classmates are fantastic, the instructors are world class, and they are the most knowledgeable people in the Air Force. Plus, in my opinion, the F-22 is the best fighter jet in the world."