El Centro: flying in the desert

NAF El Centro or El Sweato as it is nicknamed by many is known to every naval aviator. Pilots come to El Centro during their initial training and continue to do so their entire career for refreshment training. It provides realistic training to active and reserve aviation units. Squadrons visit the facility once a year to practise bombing, gunnery, carrier landings and air combat.

A few key items make NAF El Centro so special. First of all NAF El Centro has an unique climate and lies in the centre of vast unobstructed and remote desert terrain. Almost 365 sunny days with mild to hot temperatures and hardly any rain make it possible to achieve a maximum of missions to be flown each day. Next to this NAF El Centro has it own dedicated gunnery and bomb ranges and almost no non-military air traffic. These factors make NAF El Centro an ideal location for all kinds of training for the Navy like aerial combat manoeuvring, air-to-air gunnery and electronic warfare training. Next to the US Navy other branches of the Armed forces as well as foreign military use the facility for their training annually.

As an extra item NAF El Centro acts as a "winter home" for the world-famous Blue Angels. This Navy Demonstration Team is flying with F/A-18s and spends the winter months at this base. They start extensive training from January till mid-March to prepare for the new air show season.

All in all, NAF El Centro has proven its value for military aviation training for many years and will continue to do so in the future due to its excellent location, climate and facilities. 3Greens would like to thank the PAO for her patience and time.

© 2006 3Greens.nl