US Air Force Pilots Complete Initial Pilot Training

Epic Flight Academy has graduated its first cohort of U.S. Air Force pilots from Initial Pilot Training (IPT) at its New Smyrna Beach, Florida campus, under an Educational Service Agreement with the Air Force.

Training operations have since moved to Epic's Denison, Texas campus, positioned closer to the next phase of Air Force flight training. New cohorts of military officers are scheduled to arrive throughout 2026 and 2027. During the programme, pilots earn a Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IR), and Private Pilot Multi-Engine Add-on (AMEL), completing training in 139 days or less. After IPT, officers continue to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) on the T-6A Texan II.

Epic Flight Academy has been training aviation professionals since 1999 and operates as an FAA Part 141 flight school with a nationwide network of flight training and aircraft maintenance campuses.

"These officers are incredibly disciplined and focused. It is a privilege to support the Air Force in this initiative. My grandfather, Anthony Perna, was a Colonel in the Air Force. He began as a flight instructor in a B-17, so it is especially meaningful to see these pilots training at Epic. As our organization continues to grow, we remain committed to serving the aviation industry by developing the next generation of pilots, maintenance technicians, and aviation professionals," said Danny Perna, founder and CEO of Epic Flight Academy.