The adage goes, “You fight as well as you train” and this is something that the United States Air Force
takes seriously. The US Air Force operates a breathtaking number of training aircraft. Many of the Air Force’s most advanced fighter jets
are only used for training (including the
32 Block 20 F-22 Raptors the Air Force keeps asking Congress to retire
). Despite the massive investments and effort that goes into sustaining the US Air Force,
the service struggles to find enough pilots to fly all of its aircraft
.
US Air Force Air Education & Training Command Fleet
The United States Air Force Education and Training Command Fleet (AETC) operates a very diverse range of aircraft – many of which would not typically be considered training aircraft. Besides dedicated trainers, the AETC operates fighter jets, tankers, strategic airlift aircraft, gliders, various special aircraft, and the C-130 Hercules listed as “theater.”
The AETC was activated in 1942 (making it the oldest major Air Force command). It has over 29,000 active-duty members and flies around 1,300 aircraft of various descriptions.
USAF Education & Training Command Fleet (as listed on its website) |
|
---|---|
Trainers: |
T-1A Jayhawk, T-6A Texan II, T-38 Talon |
Fighter/Attack: |
F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35A Lightning II |
Tankers: |
KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus |
Strategic Airlift: |
C-17 Globemaster III |
Gliders: |
TG-15A, TG-10B Merlin |
Special Aircraft: |
MC-130 Combat, Talon HC-130, Combat King II, UH-1N Iroquois, HH-60G Pave Hawk, CV-22 Osprey |
Theater: |
C-130 Hercules |
While not listed on the AETC’s website, other aircraft like the (supposedly retired) F-117 Nighthawk (the world’s first stealth fighter) has been observed in recent years operating in a training capacity (mostly adversary training).
According to FlightGlobal, the US Air Force uses 129 F-35A for training (more than any foreign air force is expected to purchase), along with 18 F-15D Eagles and 137 F-16D Fighting Falcons. It also states that four F-117 Nighthawks are used for training, along with (curiously) 3 Lockheed U-2 “Dragon Lady” spy planes.

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USAF’s dedicated trainer fleet
When it comes to dedicated trainers, the US Air Force has T-1A Jayhawks, T-6A Texan II, and T-38 Talons, which together number more than 1,000 aircraft. The Northrop T-38 Talon is now one of the oldest aircraft in US Air Force service, having first flown in 1959. It is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer (the world’s first supersonic trainer). The Talon is related to the Northrop F-5 supersonic light fighter extensively used in the Vietnam War.
Dedicated advanced US Air Force trainers: |
Type: |
Number: |
---|---|---|
T-1A Jayhawk: |
Multi-engine trainer |
131 |
T-6 Texan II: |
Advanced trainer: |
444 |
T-38 Talon: |
Jet trainer: |
497 |
“The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat primary trainer designed to train Joint Primary Pilot Training, or JPPT, students in basic flying skills common to U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots.” – US Air Force
The
US Air Force is soon to start receiving advanced Boeing T-7 Red Hawks
, which will replace the Air Force’s fleet of T-38 Talons (at least 351 Red Hawks are planned to be acquired). So far, only prototypes have been built, but serial production is expected soon.
“The T-7A Red Hawk is an all-new Advanced Pilot Training System (APTS) for the U.S. Air Force, with flexibility to evolve as technologies, missions and training needs change. Digitally designed, built and tested, the T-7A is a low-risk, leading-edge, live, virtual and constructive fifth-generation aircrew training system that delivers a multi-generational leap in capability to revolutionize and reinvigorate fighter pilot training.” – Boeing
Photo: US Air Force
US Air Force also benefits from training with foreign air forces
The US Air Force routinely trains with other allied and partner nations worldwide. Perhaps the most famous training exercise in the US is the
Red Flag Exercise (which attracts allied air forces)
. The US also participates in other nations’ training exercises (such as the recent
Australian Pitch Black exercise, which included participants from dozens of nations
).

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Contracted private air forces
Focusing on the US Air Force’s training aircraft fleet would grossly understate the number and range of aircraft available for US Air Force training.
Several private air force training companies exist in the United States and Canada
, specializing in adversary training and the like. Each of these possesses private air fleets the size of many countries’ air forces. Even the
Civil Air Patrol can provide some adversary training services to the Air Force
.
Select North American private air force training contractors: |
Aircraft flown |
---|---|
Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC): |
Mirage F1, Mk-58 Hawker Hunter, F-21 Kfir, Aero L-39 Albatros |
Draken International: |
F-16s, Altas Cheetahs, Mirage F1Ms, MiG-21s, Falcon 20s, Aero L-159 ALCAs |
Top Aces Inc. (Canada-based): |
F-16, Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, F-4 Phantom II, Learjet 35 |
Tactical Air Support, Inc. (Tactical Air): |
A-29 Super Tucanos, Su-27s, F-16Cs, F-5 E/F Tiger IIs, Northrop CF-5Ds, Mitusbishi MU-2bs, others |
These private contractors typically provide their training services to the US Air Force as well as the Marines, Navy, and allied air forces. They often have an inventory of well over 100 aircraft and often rely heavily on foreign-designed and built aircraft (like the Mirage F1). The pilots flying these aircraft are often ex-Air Force pilots (including from the Marine Corps, Navy, and other service branches).