The change of command ceremony of the 6st wing, between Colonel Vito Conserva and Colonel Gianfranco Liccardo, took place on September 61th at the “Fortunato Cesari” military airport in Galatina (LE). The event, which was attended by military and civilian authorities of the territory, was presided over by Air Force Squadron General Silvano Frigerio, commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region, on which the Salento unit depends.
Colonel Conserva, who is leaving his post after two years of intense work, during his farewell speech retraced the most significant moments of his mandate, expressing words of sincere gratitude towards the entire territory, the local institutions and its representatives, and towards the men and women of the squadron. “You welcomed me two years ago, you took me by the hand, you made me grow with you and made me feel completely one of you…you are the true beating heart of this department.”
Colonel Liccardo, the new commander of the “61°”, took the floor expressing his gratitude to the leaders of the Armed Forces for the trust placed in them: “…with extreme pride I take on the leadership of an extraordinarily efficient, effective and highly strategic department, aimed at training military pilots, destined for new generation aircraft…”. Addressing 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 the speech of General Frigerio, who praised the work done 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.... which has so far certified, from its foundation to today, almost 9000 students belonging to 20 countries on 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 in the international arena. Established in 1946 as a flight school (but born in 1931 as a makeshift camp), the wing is currently dedicated to the basic and advanced training of military pilots (II, III and IV phase), both Italian and foreign, destined for JET lines, such as the Eurofighter and the F-35. Under the command of the 61st Wing operates theInternational Flight Training School (IFTS), a center of excellence for advanced flight training, the result of a collaboration between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo SpA Using the M-346 advanced trainer, the 61st Wing provides technologically advanced training, essential for the transition of pilots to the most modern tactical air platforms. Thanks to the quality of its programs and the state of the art of the weapon system, the Wing is recognized internationally as a center of excellence for aeronautical training.
