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Photo of F-5 courtesy of Naval Air Station Fallon Public Affairs
The “enemy” has a special seat of honor at Naval Air Station Fallon.
Near hangar 4's west side and a one-person guard shack, a walkway with an arch proclaiming “MIG Alley” identifies “enemy” headquarters.
In reality, though, this is the home of the VFC-13 Fighting Saints, a Navy squadron that provides adversary training for air wings coming to NAS Fallon.
Cmdr. Mike Weissman, a Navy reservist, has seen many changes with the VFC-13 since he began training at Fallon in 1996. As a reservist, he spends four-to-five days at a time training at the naval air station.
Fallon's original adversary squadron consisted of F-18 jets attached to VFA–27. Because of the Base Closure and Realignment in 1996, the VFA-27 was redesignated VFC-13 and became part of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. With the move to Fallon, the VFC-13 pilots began flying the F-5E Tiger II.
Weissman said merging the two units produced a hybrid squadron consisting of one-fourth to one-third active duty and the remainder reservists.
“There are not a lot of places like this,” Weissman said.
Fighting Saints pilots assume the role of the enemy, engaging air wings that come to Fallon to refine their own training. During the past 13 years, Weissman has seen many changes, especially with technology.
“Things get more advanced and so does technology. New airplanes come out, and we upgrade the other airplanes with new electronic systems,” Weissman explained.
He said the Navy is able to upgrade the older jets with new electronics and radar systems without building a new multi-million dollar jet.
Lt. Patrick Taylor, who originally trained as an F-18 Hornet pilot, came on board to NAS Fallon in March as an active-duty pilot.
He described the F-5 as a 30-year-old jet that is “low tech but has a high reliability system.”
“When squadrons come here to fly their F-18 Hornets, they rely on us to provide adversary support,” Taylor said. “We provide the most realistic training for fleet aviators as possible.”
He said the extensive acreage and abundance of sunshine in central Nevada bode well for the type of training the Navy must conduct. The air space extends about 125 miles east of NAS Fallon.
“The range complex here is special,” Taylor explained. “I don't know of anything like this in the world … except maybe Nellis (Nellis Air Force Base which is east of Las Vegas).”
During training exercises, Taylor said the adversary pilots engage others in dog-fighting skills, whereas two friendly pilots are dealing with the enemy or two adversary pilots are ganging up on one friendly aviator.
With the extensive flying during a training exercise, Taylor said safety is very important.
“We fly at different altitudes for both the ‘good' guys and ‘bad' guys,” he said.
Lt. Spencer Roberts, who arrived in Fallon in April, flew in Iraq for seven months and also served a deployment to South America.
The western New York state native immediately learned of VFC-13's reputation.
“When I got here, the squadron's professionalism and the pride the guys take is amazing,” he said. “The skipper said our job is to be professional in training the fleet. If we don't give the best training we have, we're doing them a disservice.”
Roberts said VFC-13 will work with visiting squadrons to train pilots with the skills they must have in any type of situation. He said adversary pilots simulate other countries' tactics to give fleet pilots a wider range of knowledge and how to react.
“Our job is to test the best,” Roberts said.
Originally trained as an F-18 pilot, Roberts said the transition to the F-5 has been unique.
“I went from the Mustang GT with the bells and whistles to a Dodge Neon without power steering and air conditioning,” he laughed.
On the other hand, Taylor said he is also becoming a better pilot.
“I am required to know about the plane more and not rely on many systems,” he said.
And although adversary and friendly pilots are on the same side, that doesn't stop the competitiveness.
“We try to defeat everything the fleet guys give to us,” he added.
Near hangar 4's west side and a one-person guard shack, a walkway with an arch proclaiming “MIG Alley” identifies “enemy” headquarters.
In reality, though, this is the home of the VFC-13 Fighting Saints, a Navy squadron that provides adversary training for air wings coming to NAS Fallon.
Cmdr. Mike Weissman, a Navy reservist, has seen many changes with the VFC-13 since he began training at Fallon in 1996. As a reservist, he spends four-to-five days at a time training at the naval air station.
Fallon's original adversary squadron consisted of F-18 jets attached to VFA–27. Because of the Base Closure and Realignment in 1996, the VFA-27 was redesignated VFC-13 and became part of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. With the move to Fallon, the VFC-13 pilots began flying the F-5E Tiger II.
Weissman said merging the two units produced a hybrid squadron consisting of one-fourth to one-third active duty and the remainder reservists.
“There are not a lot of places like this,” Weissman said.
Fighting Saints pilots assume the role of the enemy, engaging air wings that come to Fallon to refine their own training. During the past 13 years, Weissman has seen many changes, especially with technology.
“Things get more advanced and so does technology. New airplanes come out, and we upgrade the other airplanes with new electronic systems,” Weissman explained.
He said the Navy is able to upgrade the older jets with new electronics and radar systems without building a new multi-million dollar jet.
Lt. Patrick Taylor, who originally trained as an F-18 Hornet pilot, came on board to NAS Fallon in March as an active-duty pilot.
He described the F-5 as a 30-year-old jet that is “low tech but has a high reliability system.”
“When squadrons come here to fly their F-18 Hornets, they rely on us to provide adversary support,” Taylor said. “We provide the most realistic training for fleet aviators as possible.”
He said the extensive acreage and abundance of sunshine in central Nevada bode well for the type of training the Navy must conduct. The air space extends about 125 miles east of NAS Fallon.
“The range complex here is special,” Taylor explained. “I don't know of anything like this in the world … except maybe Nellis (Nellis Air Force Base which is east of Las Vegas).”
During training exercises, Taylor said the adversary pilots engage others in dog-fighting skills, whereas two friendly pilots are dealing with the enemy or two adversary pilots are ganging up on one friendly aviator.
With the extensive flying during a training exercise, Taylor said safety is very important.
“We fly at different altitudes for both the ‘good' guys and ‘bad' guys,” he said.
Lt. Spencer Roberts, who arrived in Fallon in April, flew in Iraq for seven months and also served a deployment to South America.
The western New York state native immediately learned of VFC-13's reputation.
“When I got here, the squadron's professionalism and the pride the guys take is amazing,” he said. “The skipper said our job is to be professional in training the fleet. If we don't give the best training we have, we're doing them a disservice.”
Roberts said VFC-13 will work with visiting squadrons to train pilots with the skills they must have in any type of situation. He said adversary pilots simulate other countries' tactics to give fleet pilots a wider range of knowledge and how to react.
“Our job is to test the best,” Roberts said.
Originally trained as an F-18 pilot, Roberts said the transition to the F-5 has been unique.
“I went from the Mustang GT with the bells and whistles to a Dodge Neon without power steering and air conditioning,” he laughed.
On the other hand, Taylor said he is also becoming a better pilot.
“I am required to know about the plane more and not rely on many systems,” he said.
And although adversary and friendly pilots are on the same side, that doesn't stop the competitiveness.
“We try to defeat everything the fleet guys give to us,” he added.
