The Oxygen Conundrum
TW-6 (Tail code F– VT-4 Warbucks, VT-10 Wildcats, and VT-86 Sabrehawks) based at NAS Pensacola in Florida began using T-45s to teach the Navy / Marine Corps Student Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Advanced Strike Aircraft Training Program during 2008.
All three T-45C-equipped Training Air Wings were affected by what amounted to a strike by the Navy and Marine instructor pilots in April of 2017. The problem was caused by malfunctions in the oxygen-generation systems of both the T-45 Goshawk and the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet, resulting in hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) among crews. After grounding the entire fleet and much debate, the Navy upgraded the On-Board Oxygen Generation Systems (OBOGS) and addressed the high rate of psychological episodes PEs (which rose from 13 to 38 annually for T-45s).
T-45 Goshawk to the Boat
Today, prospective Naval Aviators use the T-45C to practice formation flight, weapons delivery, basic air combat maneuvering, and many other skills required to progress to flying fighters (strike fighters) in the fleet. One of the most important of these skills is carrier operations.
A Naval Aviator who flies fighters (strike fighters), or anything else for that matter, has GOT to be able to operate safely around and from “the boat.” Prospective fighter pilots fly T-45Cs when they “trap” aboard a carrier for the first time.
A Lifetime of Service
In August of 2010, the Naval Air Training Command (NATC) celebrated the T-45’s one millionth flight hour during 26 years of service. With no replacement in sight, it appears the Goshawks will be getting thrown around by student Naval Aviators for many more years, and perhaps even another million flight hours.
As of late 2025, the fleet is undergoing a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) to remain in use until at least 2035.
T-45 Goshawk Ball
In the best tradition of training units everywhere, enjoy this Goshawk Ball video starring Training Wing ONE uploaded to YouTube by slickhutto.
BONUS VIDEO
T-45 Goshawk carrier qualifications aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) uploaded to YouTube by Math2488.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published on 17 May 2017. It was updated with current operational statistics and republished on 16 April 2026.
[…] year, the Navy conducted a similar stand down of flying after numerous crews reported issues with the T-45 Goshawk and the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Most suspect that issues are related to the OBOGs or On-board […]
[…] Greyhound in the Navy, the SNA will be required to complete carrier qualification (CQ) flying the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) T-45C Goshawk jet trainer. This HD video, uploaded to YouTube by The Joint Forces Channel, follows a group of SNAs through […]
[…] that’s the aircraft that our students will fly before they move on to the F-18 or other aircraft. But carrier-based fighters, typically. And I did […]