Boeing Super Hornet Trainer Deliveries Allow US Navy to Train in 4-ship Formation

Boeing and teammate L-3 Link Simulation & Training today announced that they delivered two F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Tactical Operation Flight Trainers (TOFT) to the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va., in February, and declared them "Ready for Training." The devices offer aircrews the same Operational Flight Program used in the Boeing-built Super Hornet aircraft.

"The successful delivery of these trainers to Oceana gives pilots there the ability to operate in a four-ship integrated training scenario with previously delivered devices," said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president of Training Systems & Services. "Also, the Block II software upgrades delivered with the new trainers allow aircrews to operate in more-realistic training scenarios, including mission rehearsals for Air Wing events."

The two TOFTs delivered in February join two trainers that were already operating at NAS Oceana. Another two devices are at NAS Lemoore, Calif. Boeing incorporated the software upgrades into all four previously delivered TOFTs. The improvements include updates to the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System and to a Digital Memory Device; integrated Joint Mission Planning System capabilities; and an advanced navigation system.

Six additional Block II TOFTs in Arlington, Texas, are being used for future trainer development -- primarily for testing software and other architectural upgrades -- before being delivered to Oceana and Lemoore. When the current contract is complete in 2012, the Navy could award Boeing a follow-on contract for four additional trainers.

The TOFTs each comprise an instructor/operator station that establishes the scenarios and training lessons, and forward and aft crew stations with their own visual systems. More than 40 computers keep the TOFTs operational, and one brief/debrief station is in place for every two trainers.