It took place on Thursday 22 January 2026, at the “Conference Room” of the Salento flight school, the handover ceremony for the Military Pilot Patents to eleven student pilots, seven of the’Italian Air Force Italian, two members of the Royal Saudi Air Force and two others of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. A piece of data that confirms, once again, the 61st Wing As a leading international training institution, daily engaged in preparing future military pilots, in the spirit of excellence, innovation, and cooperation between nations. Particularly exciting was the moment when the young pilots, accompanied by a family member, took to the stage to receive their coveted wings.
The awarding of the Turrita Eagle, which is one of the most significant milestones in every military pilot's career, marks the completion of a long and complex training path, during which the students have undertaken theoretical activities, simulator sessions, and real missions, all aimed at developing piloting skills, even in complex operational contexts, and emergency management.
During his speech, the Commander of the 61st Wing, Colonel Gianfranco Liccardo, Pilot, recalling that the Galatina flight school, established in 1946, has been training cadet pilots for 80 years, addressed a message to the newly qualified:
“With the crowned eagle you wear on your chest today, you officially join the great family of military pilots. To achieve this goal, you have committed yourselves with constancy, dedication, and a spirit of sacrifice. My hope is that I have been able to deliver to the Italian Air Force and the air forces of Saudi Arabia and Singapore, not only excellent pilots but also better people, in every respect.”Then, turning to the many family members present“I consider you a fundamental element of their current success. Share this celebration with them: it is you, in fact, who have fuelled that flame on which their personality and their best qualities have developed.”.
The majority of the new military pilots will continue their training, still under the guidance of the 61st Wing, at the 212th Flying Group/IFTS (International Flight Training Schooldeployed to the Decimomannu base in Sardinia, where they will complete their final training phase on the T-346 system.
The 61st Wing, which reports to the Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region in Bari, is structured to provide high-performance training tailored to the formation of pilots destined for aerotactical operations. Specifically, the school, out of the four phases that make up a pilot's complete training path (the first phase – flight selection – takes place at the 70th Wing in Latina), provides Phase 2 training (Primary Pilot Training – common to all military pilot trainees and aimed at identifying the operational lines they will fly), Phase 3 training (Specialised Pilot Training – exclusively for pilot trainees selected for “Fighter” lines), and the fourth and final phase (known as “Lead In to Fighter Training,“ preparatory for subsequent deployment on latest-generation fighter aircraft).
