Epic Flight Academy Completes First U.S. Air Force Pilot Training Cohort, Relocates Operations to Texas
Epic Flight Academy (EFA) has completed its inaugural U.S. Air Force Initial Pilot Training (IPT) program at its New Smyrna Beach, Florida campus. Trainees earned a Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, and Multi-Engine Add-On within 139 days. Military training operations have since relocated to EFA's Denison, Texas campus, with new officer cohorts planned for 2026 and 2027.
Highlights
- Epic Flight Academy completed its first U.S. Air Force Initial Pilot Training (IPT) cohort at its New Smyrna Beach, Florida campus, with graduates earning three pilot qualifications in 139 days.
- EFA has relocated all military training operations to its Denison, Texas campus to reduce transition time for officers advancing to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) on the T-6A Texan II.
- New U.S. Air Force officer cohorts are scheduled at EFA's Denison campus for 2026 and 2027.
- EFA, founded in 1999, is the largest FAA Part 141-certified flight school in the United States, operating 11 training facilities across the country.
- EFA CEO Danny Perna noted a personal connection to the Air Force: his grandfather Anthony Perna served as a U.S. Air Force Colonel and B-17 flight instructor.
Epic Flight Academy Completes First U.S. Air Force Pilot Training Cohort, Relocates Operations to Texas
Epic Flight Academy (EFA) has announced the successful completion and graduation of its inaugural U.S. Air Force Initial Pilot Training (IPT) program at its New Smyrna Beach, Florida campus.
Three Flight Qualifications Earned in 139 Days
Trainees participated under an Educational Service Agreement (ESA) with the Air Force, completing the following qualifications within 139 days:
- Private Pilot Certificate
- Instrument Rating
- Multi-Engine Add-On
Training Operations Relocate to Denison, Texas
Following the successful conclusion of the inaugural cohort, EFA has moved its military training operations to its Denison, Texas campus. After completing IPT, the officer graduates will proceed to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), where they will fly the T-6A Texan II trainer aircraft in the next phase of their military flight education. The relocation positions pilots closer to their subsequent Air Force training locations, reducing transition time between programs.
EFA confirmed that its Denison campus will continue to accept new officer cohorts in 2026 and 2027.
Founder's Deep Aviation Roots
EFA Founder and CEO Danny Perna commented in the official press release: "These officers have an incredible level of discipline and focus, and it is an honor to support the Air Force in advancing this program."
Perna also has a personal connection to the Air Force — his grandfather, Anthony Perna, served as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
"My grandfather started out as a B-17 flight instructor, so seeing these pilots train at Epic is especially meaningful to me," said Danny Perna. "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."
About Epic Flight Academy
Founded in 1999, Epic Flight Academy provides pilot and maintenance technician training across 11 training facilities in the United States — nine dedicated to pilot training and two to maintenance technician training. EFA is the largest FAA Part 141-certified flight school in the United States.
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