~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ Road Trip: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas 
Laughlin Air Force Base is a facility of the United States Air Force located east of Del Rio, Texas. Laughlin AFB, the largest pilot training base in the US Air Force, is home to the 47th Flying Training Wing of the Air Education and Training Command and the 96th Flying Training Squadron of the Air Force Reserve Command. On weekdays, the airfield sees more takeoffs and landings than any other airport in the country. 
The 47th Flying Training Wing has been active at Laughlin Air Force Base since September 1, 1972. In the nearly fifty years that it has been operating at Laughlin, the 47th Flying Training Wing has trained more than 15,000 pilots for the United States and its allies, the wing's mission since 1972 has been to train pilots for the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and allied nation air forces. Today the wing utilizes the T-6A Texan II, T-38C Talon, and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft to perform this mission, while striving, every day, to build combat-ready Airmen, leaders, and pilots. 
The 47th Operations Group is responsible for training U.S. Air Force pilots under the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. The 47th OG provides management, control, standardization and evaluation of all aspects of flying training operations and airfield management at Laughlin.
The group consists of four flying training squadrons, an operations support squadron and a student squadron.
Earning the wings of an Air Force pilot is extremely challenging. During the 52-week training period, each student pilot flies nearly 200 hours in the T-6A and either the T-38 or T-1A aircraft. Flying is supplemented by almost 60 hours in aircraft simulators and more than 500 hours in the classroom. 
The 85th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, along with the 434th FTS, conducts the T-6A Texan II flying training portion of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. The 60 instructor pilots of the 85th FTS train over 150 students annually, flying over 26,000 sorties and 35,000 hours. 
Learn More About Laughlin Air Force Base HERE!!
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.
Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun! We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity. We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon. We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way. God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always | 
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