By Lt. j.g. Tyler Watters, Naval Air Station Whiting Field Public Affairs
WHITING FIELD, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Training Air Wing (TRAWING) 5 received a new helicopter with a drastically different color scheme Aug. 4 to help celebrate the centennial of naval aviation.
TRAWING 5, the largest tenant command at NAS Whiting Field, took custody of the blue and grey TH-57 Sea Ranger, the first of the new modified aircraft to be delivered to any chief of naval air training command.
"It's great to see this aircraft to help remind us of our history," said Capt. James Vandiver, commander, TRAWING 5. "Looking back at all the great things that naval aviation has accomplished, you know that as we move forward, we can accomplish anything."
Two L-3 Vertex pilots flew the aircraft from the maintenance facility in Andalusia, Ala., where it was kept for a regularly scheduled maintenance period. The new color scheme was applied as a part of the planned refurbishment at no additional cost to the Navy.
The Sea Ranger was taxied to an area in front of NAS Whiting Field's south field hangar where a small crowd of TRAWING 5 squadron and base personnel had assembled to witness the arrival. The crowd applauded when the skids touched ground.
Throughout the next five years, this gull grey Sea Ranger will be kept in a regular flight rotation, where student naval aviators being trained to become U.S. naval helicopter pilots will have a chance to fly training flights in it.
As part of the centennial of naval aviation celebration, one aircraft of each type, model and series from the U.S. Navy aircraft inventory will be painted light gull grey, with all markings and insignia painted insignia blue.
The earliest Navy aircraft did not have standard markings or coatings. In 1916, the first attempt at rendering a national insignia for Navy aircraft was adopted for approximately two years prior to the star insignia that was used beginning in 1918. This insignia was a stylized anchor, typically painted in dark blue.
Capt. Washington Irving Chambers, officer in charge of aviation, prepared the requisition for the Navy's first aircraft to be purchased from aviation pioneer and inventor Glenn H. Curtiss May 8, 1911, marking the birth date of naval aviation.
Beginning January 2011, the Navy will hold a year-long celebration of the men and women whose tremendous achievements have contributed to a century of aviation progress. Celebrations will be held across the country to recognize and commemorate these achievements, and these aircraft are designed to provide a visible reminder of our naval aviation heritage and will serve as just one of the many centennial observances.
As one of each type of naval aircraft is modified, NAS Whiting Field is scheduled to receive a centennial T-34C Turbomentor or T-6B Texan II.
