T-43A Gator retirement date set

[phantom]

On the 17th of September the last flight of the T-43A will take place. The link contains information about the farewell ceremony: http://www.t43retirement.com/T43Retirement/EVENTS.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stratofreighter]

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanan ... ily29.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Friday, September 10, 2010, 2:07pm CDT

Air Force to retire military training aircraft

San Antonio Business Journal

Northeast San Antonio residents will soon no longer hear the roar of the T-43 “Gator” flying above Randolph Air Force Base.

The U.S. Air Force has authorized the retirement of the military plane. The T-43 is the military version of the Boeing 737.

The Air Force uses the T-43 as a training aircraft in its Combat Systems Officer curriculum under the 562nd and 563rd Flying Training Squadrons in San Antonio.
The Air Force will hold its final flyby on Sept. 17.

The Air Force has conducted T-43 training at Randolph since the closure of Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento in 1993.

Management of the Combat Systems Officer mission will continue under the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph.

However, the 479th Flying Training Group in Pensacola, Fla., will train students on aircraft simulators, after which students will fly the T-6A Texan and a modified version of the T-1A Jayhawk.

[wamovements]

Last flight was performed by 73-1153 "562nd FTS". According to randolph.af.mil this aircraft will be preserved at Randolph in the future