VFA-106

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Strike Fighter Squadron 106

VFA-106 Insignia
Active April 27, 1984-Present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Type Fighter/Attack
Role Fleet Replacement Squadron
Garrison/HQ NAS Oceana
Nickname Gladiators
Engagements None

Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106), also known as the "Gladiators", are a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana.


VFA-106 was activated at NAS Cecil Field, Florida on April 27, 1984, flying the A and B models of the F/A-18 Hornet, later adding the C and D models. In the summer of 1999, VFA-106 moved from NAS Cecil Field to NAS Oceana, Virginia. In 2004, VFA-106 received the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

[edit] Mission

As the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron, the Gladiators’ mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 Replacement Pilots and Weapons System Officers (WSOs) to support fleet commitments. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly-winged Navy and Marine Corps 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.

The West Coast counterparts to VFA-106 are VFA-125 and VFA-122 at NAS Lemoore, California and VMFAT-101 at MCAS Miramar, California. VFA-106 is also responsible for transitioning experienced naval aviators from other aircraft, such as the F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking, to the Hornet and Super Hornet. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments undergo refresher training at VFA-106 prior to returning to the fleet. Additionally, VFA-106 (with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit: CNATTTU) trains maintenance personnel and provides replacement aircraft to fleet units.

There are approximately 1200 Navy and Marine personnel, as well as foreign instructors and students (from countries such as England, Switzerland, and Germany) assigned to VFA-106. VFA-106 typically has 90+ F/A-18s of various models assigned. There is a permanent VFA-106 Detachment in Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, where the squadron often deploys for fighter training. The squadron often detaches 12 aircraft to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada and Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, as well as various aircraft carriers for carrier qualifications (CQ).

[edit] External links