61ST WING, FLIGHT SCHOOL: TWO GREEK PILOTS QUALIFIED

Receiving the coveted turreted eagle at the 61st Wing of Galatina were two student pilots of Greek nationality. It took place on the morning of Tuesday 29 June, in the main assembly hall of the “F. Cesari” airport at Galatina, the traditional “Delivery of the Eagles“, the ceremony that concludes the long and demanding journey that leads to the attainment of the Military pilot's licence. Receiving the coveted mural crown eagle this time, they were two student pilots of Greek nationality.
The event, which took place in strict compliance with the procedures required by the current health emergency, has made it possible to consolidate the strong ties between Italy and the Hellenic peninsula: in fact, for a few years now, a fruitful collaboration activity in the flight training sector has been active between the Italian Air Force and the’Hellenic Air Force, collaboration focused on the flight schools of Lecce-Galatina (61st Wingand of Kalamata.
After pinning the turreted eagle to the chests of the young Greek pilots, Col. Filippo Nannelli, Commander of the 61st Wing, he thanked the staff of the Galatina Air Base for their commitment shown despite the difficult conditions caused by the epidemiological crisis. “Hand over the eagle to pilots of another nationality amplifies the gratification and is a source of pride not only for the men and women of the airport but for the entire country and, in particular, for the Salento area, which has always hosted and supported an air base possessing unique capabilities on the international scene“.
The school in Galatina, which next September will celebrate 75 years since its inception, it therefore confirms the profound international vocation expressed since the early 1950s. The 61st Wing is able to offer unique expertise in the sector of on-the-fly training and an integrated system for’training among the most advanced in the world, what's more entirely the result of Italian industry.
Addicted toSchools Command of the Italian Air Force / 3rd Air Region of Bari, the 61st Wing has the task of providing jet flight training for Phase II –Primary Pilot Training, common to all military pilot trainees, aimed at identifying the lines on which they will flyFighters, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), helicopters, transport); of Phase III –Specialised Pilot Training, exclusively for student pilots selected for the “Fighter”and “RPA”, which concludes with the acquisition of the military pilot's licence (turreted eagle); and Phase IV –Lead-in to Fighter Training- LIFT, preparatory to subsequent use on aircraftfighterstate-of-the-art.