Colonel Liccardo takes over from Colonel Conserva in command of the Salento flight school.
Galatina, 06 September 2024 – The change of command ceremony for the 61st Wing, between Colonel Vito Conserva and Colonel Gianfranco Liccardo, took place today inside the “Fortunato Cesari” military airport in Galatina (Lecce). The event, attended by local military and civil authorities, was presided over by Air Squad General Silvano Frigerio, Commander of the Italian Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region, upon which the Apulian unit depends.
It Colonel Conserva, who is leaving the role after two years of intense work, during his farewell speech retraced the most significant moments of his term of office, expressing words of sincere gratitude towards the whole local area, the local institutions and their representatives, and towards the men and women of the Stormo “You welcomed me two years ago, took me by the hand, made me grow with you and made me feel entirely one of you... you are the true beating heart of this department.”
It Colonel Liccardo, the new commander of the “61st”, took the floor, expressing his gratitude to the leadership of the Armed Forces for the trust placed in him: “... with extreme pride I assume the leadership of an extraordinarily efficient, effective department with a highly strategic connotation, aimed at the training of military pilots destined for new-generation aircraft...”. Turning to the staff, he continued: “our work must necessarily be based on the principles of responsibility, fairness, transparency, mutual trust and, above all, identity...we are the 61st Wing”.
The ceremony concluded with a speech by the General Frigerio, who praised the work carried out by Colonel Conserva and expressed his support for Colonel Liccardo. “The 61st Wing is a fundamental pillar for the training of our pilots, and a leading flight school also on the international scene... having thus far graduated, from its establishment to the present day, almost 9,000 trainees belonging to as many as 20 countries from 4 continents” said General Frigerio, “and I am certain that under the leadership of the new commander it will continue to maintain the high standards of excellence that distinguish it.“
The 61st Wing of Galatina, located in the province of Lecce, is one of the most prestigious flight schools internationally. Established in 1946 as a flight school (though it originated in 1931 as an emergency landing ground), the Wing is currently dedicated to the basic and advanced training of military pilots (in phases II, III, and IV), both Italian and foreign, destined for jet lines, such as the Eurofighter and the F-35. Operating under the command of the 61st Wing is the International Flight Training School (IFTS), a centre of excellence for advanced flight training, resulting from a collaboration between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo S.p.A. Using the advanced trainer M-346, the 61st Wing it provides technologically advanced training, essential for the transition of pilots towards the most modern air-tactical platforms. Thanks to the quality of its programmes and the state-of-the-art weapon system, the Wing is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for flight training.
