T-2 ends Navy career

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The Navy's last flying T-2C Buckeye made its final flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River Sept. 25, capping 56 years of the aircraft type's service to the fleet. Although the T-2s were officially retired from service in 2008 with a "sundown" ceremony, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 at NAS Patuxent River continued to use three Buckeyes as safety chase aircraft during test and evaluation flights of the E-2D Hawkeye, P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial system. (Source: NNS, 10/01/15) Gulf Coast note: The sundown ceremony was Aug. 22, 2008, at Naval Air Station Pensacola. See 2008 archives for the brief