CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In Kingsville, a huge milestone took place as the Navy's, T-45 Goshawk aircraft crossed one million hours of total in-flight time.
It first took flight over 30 years ago, with many generations earning their wings from flying this plane.
Vice President of US Navy Product Support of the Boeing Company, Sophia Bright said that the event commemorates those that have supported the aircraft.
"It's a testament to the men and women that have supported this particular aircraft," she said. "Whether they're from industry or from the maintenance operators down here being able to keep this plane up and running, and as we heard earlier today right, the T-45 Goshawk is sort of the gateway jet, trains all of our navy pilots for a number of missions that we have out there that are important to keeping our nation safe."
Commodore of Training, Air Wing Two, Aaron Rybar said he is truly proud of this aircraft and their partners in Kingsville and that it's all possible because of those important relationships.
"South Texas has always had a fantastic relationship with naval aviation and truly carrier naval aviation and that really is what today was about," Rybar said. "These million flight hours, that continued relationship over decades all the way back to when aviators were heading out on the USS Lexington to get their first traps."
Rybar says there are replacements coming but in the meantime they are doing everything they can to "elongate" the lifetime of the T-45.
More from 3News on KIIITV.com:
- Human remains found near Ennis Joslin Monday sent to North Texas for autopsy
- JP Luby grass fire caused by fireworks, officials say
- IMAGES: What Tropical Storm Alberto looks like across the Coastal Bend
- Friends, musicians inspired by Johnny Canales discuss the icon and his legacy
- CCPD: Body matching description of missing woman Tanya Garza found Saturday
- First responders provide insight into 2 fatal drownings at Lake Corpus Christi
- Nueces County Public Health District offering free CPR certification classes this summer
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for your daily news and exclusive extended interviews.
Do you have a news tip? Tell 3!
Email tell3@kiiitv.com so we can get in touch with you about your story should we have questions or need more information. We realize some stories are sensitive in nature. Let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous.