87th FLYING TRAINING SQUADRON (1990)

Redesignated as the 87th Flying Training Squadron on 9 February 1990 and activated on 2 April 1990, the squadron joined the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base with a clear and enduring purpose: to prepare the next generation of United States Air Force combat pilots.

At Laughlin, the 87th was entrusted with the T-38 Talon, an aircraft synonymous with precision, discipline, and performance. In its cockpit, students transition from foundational flight skills to the advanced techniques required for operational service. Precision flying, high-altitude operations, instrument proficiency, and tactical formation flight are not simply academic milestones, they are the building blocks of combat capability.

The squadron’s primary mission is to train future combat aviators for fighter and bomber aircraft. Within the demanding environment of the T-38, students develop the judgment, situational awareness, and confidence essential for success in high-performance combat platforms. The standards are exacting, the pace deliberate, and the expectation clear: excellence is the baseline.

Instructor pilots of the 87th bring operational experience and a commitment to mentorship that ensures each graduate is prepared for the challenges ahead. Their guidance shapes not only skilled aviators, but disciplined officers ready to serve in operational squadrons around the world.

From the runways of Laughlin Air Force Base, generations of pilots have departed for assignments in front-line units, carrying with them the foundation built within the Red Bulls. The squadron’s legacy is reflected in the strength of America’s combat airpower and in the professionalism of the aircrews who defend the nation.

The 87th Flying Training Squadron remains dedicated to its mission: training the world’s finest combat pilots and sustaining the proud tradition of Air Force excellence. 

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