VT-35 Stingrays Tilt Mafia — Embroidered Patch Where Aviators Earn Their Wings Every multi-engine Naval Aviator remembers VT-35 — the Stingrays. This is where future P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon, and C-130 Hercules pilots earned their wings of gold, mastering asymmetric thrust and instrument flight in the T-44C Pegasus over the skies of South Texas. If you flew with the Stingrays, this patch is your story. Established on 29 October 1999 at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, VT-35 was the first Navy squadron ever to have an Air Force officer as its commanding officer — a testament to the joint training mission that defines the unit. The Stingrays are one of two advanced multi-engine training squadrons in the Navy, executing nearly 14,000 flight hours annually encompassing over 43,000 landings and 6,500 student training events. VT-35 won the CNATRA Training Excellence Award and the CNO Aviation Safety Award in its first two years, increasing pilot production by 20 percent for two consecutive years. The "Tilt Mafia" spirit represents the brotherhood of MV-22 Osprey-bound aviators who passed through the squadron. Perfect For: VT-35 graduates and instructors, multi-engine Naval Aviators, T-44C Pegasus pilots, NAS Corpus Christi personnel, MV-22 Osprey community members, and winging gift recipients. Stingrays Lead the Way.
