VFA-122
| Strike Fighter Squadron One Two Two | |
|---|---|
VFA-122 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 15 January 1999 - present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Strike Fighter |
| Role | Introduce the Super Hornet to the fleet, train replacement personnel to fly and maintain the aircraft, and transition entire squadrons from "legacy" Hornets |
| Size | 225 staff officers, 1000 enlisted personnel, operate over 100 aircraft |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Lemoore CA |
| Nickname(s) | "Flying Eagles" |
| Motto(s) | "Professionalism & Loyalty" |
| Colors | "Blue and Gold" |
| Mascot(s) | Eagle |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
CDR Christopher "Patty" Hurst |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F/A-18 Hornet F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
There have been two distinct Navy squadrons known as the "Flying Eagles". The first was established in 1950 as VC-35, later redesignated VA(AW)-35, and then VA-122 and was disestablished in May 1991. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons, but officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with decommisioned squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation.
In January 1999 a new Flying Eagles squadron was established as Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), the first squadron to operate the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
On 1 October 2010 VFA-125 (the "legacy" F/A-18 Hornet FRS also stationed at NAS Lemoore) was deactivated and the squadron's aircraft and personnel were absorbed into VFA-122. The merger was intended to cut administrative costs and streamline production in anticipation of the "legacy" F/A-18 Hornet being phased out by the Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II in the coming years. The merged squadron retained the Flying Eagles insignia and the Rough Raiders of VFA-125 were deactivated.
As the West Coast Hornet and Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron, the squadron's mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18A/B/C/D/E/F Replacement Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) to support fleet commitments. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly winged Navy pilots and Naval Flight Officers begins the 9-month training course in which they learn the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Hornet squadrons.
VFA-122's East Coast counterpart is VFA-106 at NAS Oceana. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments undergo refresher training at VFA-122 prior to returning to the fleet. Additionally, VFA-122 (with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit: CNATTTU) trains maintenance personnel and provides replacement aircraft to fleet units.
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Wikipedia