From late 66 to early 68 some 40 or so RAN aircrew had the good fortune to be sent to Pensacola to do their training and gain their "wings". Training started out with about 20 hours on the T-34, where upon you moved on to the T-28 to do your instrument, aerobatics (barrels rolls were on instruments basically - start off on altitude/heading, pull up into roll and at wings vertical had to be 45° off heading, inverted 90° off heading, again 45° off heading when wings vertical on the pull out, and back on altitude/heading on completion, and don't touch the power), formation and carrier qualification on the "Lexington". Some were streamed from there to Corpus Christi to do the multi engine course on the S-2 and the rest of us stayed in Pensacola to convert onto helos. About 20 hours in Bell 47 followed by about 70 hours in the H-34. Both the T-28 and H-34 were powered by the glorious Wright Cyclone, what real aeroplanes are supposed to be powered by (the fragrance and sound of pistons), not your whining turbines. The "Lexington" was home ported in Pensacola for the sole purpose of carrier qualifying students (T-28, S-2, T-2 Buckeye and F-9 Cougar). Happy days.