Delivery of the Eagles to the 61 ° Stormo

17/11/14

For seven student pilots of the "Leone V" course the time has come for the "Delivery of the Eagles". After a long and demanding journey that was completed at the air base in Salento, the young officers finally pinned the turreted "eagle", symbol and emblem of the military pilot, on their uniforms.

The ceremony took place last Friday morning in the central hangar of the "Fortunato Cesari" airport in Galatina, headquarters of the 61st Wing, and was chaired by the air squad general Franco Girardi who, as commander of the air force schools military, according to tradition, pinned the "eagle" on the chest of the first classified student. The event was embellished by the participation of a representation of pupils and teachers from the elementary schools of Galatina, whose presence confirms the affection and proximity of the territory and citizens to the Salento aeronautical reality.

For Colonel Paolo Tarantino, commander of the flight school "The young pilots are for the armed force the sign of continuity and therefore of the ability to know how to pass on the values that characterize the team in Azzurro: passion, ethics and competence. However, in addition to representing an unforgettable moment in their professional training, and in their life in general, the goal achieved by Leo V's students is a source of pride also for the Salento area, which has hosted and supported a base since the early thirties. today projected, rightly, among the main training realities for military and European flight, the current results - continues the commander Tarantino - are the result of years of effort to improve programs and methodologies and increase the experience professional of the flight crew and specialist, to continue to maintain a role of excellence on the world scene, play her role in the training system of the T-346A, the new Italian-made aircraft, as well as those used so far, acquired by the military aeronautics for the training of pilot pilots destined for use on high performance aircraft ", plays a decisive role".

The new pilots of the Air Force are: Lieutenant Federico A. born in Gallarate (VA) 26 years, Lieutenant Manrico B. born in Parma (PR) 27 years, Lieutenant Nicola Z. born in Latisana (UD) 27 years , the second lieutenant Sante C. born in Naples (NA) 24 years, the second lieutenant Francesco L. born in Grottaglie (TA) 24 years, the second lieutenant Francesco P. born in Naples (NA) 26 years and the second lieutenant Adriano V. born in Naples (NA) 26 years.