United States Naval Test Pilot School
The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) is a US Navy training facility . It is located at the Patuxent River Naval Air Base in Maryland , USA . There, pilots, weapons system officers and engineers of the Navy , Marine Corps , Army and Air Force are instructed in the functionality, development and technology of the various aircraft.
The school was founded in 1945 when the Navy's Test Pilot Training Division moved from the Anacostia Naval Air Base, Washington, DC to the Patuxent River Naval Air Base. The first course left school on December 21, 1948. The types flown at the time were PB4Y -2 Privateer, F6F -5 Hellcat, Fairchild XNQ -1, F7F -3 Tigercat, F8F Bearcat, PBY -6A Catalina and Beech SNB -1. In 1957 the school was given its name, which it still bears today.
The selection process is extremely demanding and applicants are selected by a selection committee. USNTPS is the only U.S. military test pilot school offering academic courses in helicopters. The school operates 50 aircraft of 13 different types. Students can expect to fly between 15 and 20 different aircraft during their course.
literature
- Eric Katerberg & Pieter M. Groenendijk: US Naval Test Pilot School , International Air Power Review Vol. 10, pp. 27-30
