(L- r) Nola Burnette, sister; Michael Alan Burnette, father; 1st Lt. Michael Alan Burnette Jr.; Nola Burnette, mother; and Powers Burnette, brother; attend the Naval Aviators ceremony where 1st Lt. Burnette received his Wings.
1st Lt. Michael A.
Burnette Jr., USMC
Commissioning source:
Officer Candidate
School
Primary Squadron: 33rd
Fts. Vance AFB, T- 6A
Advanced Squadron:
HT- 18
Assigned to: Mag26/29
New River, N.C.
Will fly: UH- 1W
Hometown: Columbia,
S.C.

Student Naval Aviators begin advanced rotary wing training with approximately 100 hours of primary and intermediate fixed wing training.

Their helicopter training begins with approximately 40 hours primary training in the TH- 57B model of the Sea Ranger, familiarizing them with hovering, takeoffs, landings, approaches, autorotations, and emergency procedures.

They then learn to fly without visual references outside the cockpit, including basic and radio instrument flying in the TH- 7C, culminating in their instrument check ride.

Nola and Jim Covington with their grandson 1st Lt. Michael A. Burnette at the Naval Aviators ceremony January 9, 2009 where Burnette received his Wings. The final stage of training introduces the student naval aviators to advanced tactical concepts of rotary wing flight, including external load operations, confined area landings, night and tactical navigation, night landing zone operations, search and rescue, formation flying, and small deck shipboard qualifications.

Upon completion of this demanding syllabus, the new Naval Aviator will have completed 215 hours of flight time in the Naval Air Training Command and can truthfully say that he or she is one of "The Best Trained Helicopter Pilots in the World."