Taking flight

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  From seeing pictures in her grandfather's home of aircraft, to starting her private pilot's license as a high school senior, through her Air Force training, 1st Lt. Candice Killian, 71st Special Operations Squadron student, has always wanted to fly.

After nearly three years of flight training with the Air Force, she has received her wings as the first qualified female pilot of the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

"I had two major influences for initially getting interested in flying," said Lieutenant Killian. "One was my grandfather. He flew civilian aircraft. I never got to see them because I was too young, but I saw pictures of them at his house and he would tell me stories.

The other was a friend who flew. His father was in the Air Force. When my friend went to the Air Force Academy, he encouraged me to learn to fly."

She said she went to her local airport to look into taking flying lessons. Within 18 months, she completed her private pilot's license.

Lieutenant Killian said she wanted to join the Air Force to make a positive difference and to serve her country. It also fulfilled her desire to fly. She went to the Air Force Academy to start her training.

"I found out that I was going to fly for the Air Force my senior year at the academy," said Lieutenant Killian. "The undergraduate pilot training track is very broad at first, but you find out where you're going at the Academy at what we call '100 days.'

It's a dinner and a celebration where they tell you where you're going to go. It's your senior year and you finally know where you're going."

From the academy, Lieutenant Killian went to initial pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. The initial training, on the T-6A Texan II training aircraft, took about six months and included flight training and academics. After that, she went to Fort Rucker, Ala., to learn how to fly the UH-1 Huey helicopter.

"I knew I wanted to fly helicopters," said Lieutenant Killian. "I like the overall mission role that helicopters in the Air Force generally fly. The broad spectrum of things we can do. Upon completion of the course at Fort Rucker, you can get Ospreys, Hueys or HH-60s. The overall mission of the Osprey is very appealing."

After undergraduate pilot training, Lieutenant Killian was chosen to train as a pilot on the CV-22 Osprey. The initial training took place with the Marine Corps at Air Station New River, N.C. As a joint program, all Air Force CV-22 pilots complete the Marine course where they are taught general aircraft systems and the basics about flying a tilrotor aircraft.

"Working with the Marines was a lot of fun and really fulfilling," said Lieutenant Killian. "To experience their culture and how they train was awesome. I had the opportunity to be instructed by them and see the different learning styles they used."

After training with the Marines, she came to Kirtland Air Force Base to complete her CV-22 unique mission training with the 58th Special Operations Wing.

"I didn't find out I was the first female pilot until they chose me," said Lieutenant Killian. "I remember being told 'You're the first'. It's an honor that they would choose me. It's nice to be a part of this elite organization."

Her commander ensured that everything was prepared for the integration of a woman into the squadron.

"When I knew that we were going to get our first female pilot, I had a commander's call and I addressed all my instructors because I thought it was my obligation to do so," said Lt. Col. Larry Riddick, 71st Special Operations Squadron commander. "I knew that we had professionals in the squadron and they would know how to handle it and it's worked out just fine. She was selected out of pilot training because she was qualified. She's come here and quite frankly met and in some cases exceeded our standards. Therefore she has been designated CV-22 pilot - number 97."

Each pilot who graduates from CV-22 training receives a coin from the commander with a number signifying where they fall in the training pipeline, according to Colonel Riddick, number 14.

"She's done very well in the course and we've had no issues," said Colonel Riddick. "It's been fantastic having her here and I look forward to hearing about her career."

From here, Lieutenant Killian will be transferring to her next duty station at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

"I want to continue to do well," said Lieutenant Killian. "For all those who have influenced me along the way, I can't thank them enough. Without them, I probably would not be here. I want to thank everyone for their positive guidance."