First U. S. Air Force Enlisted Pilots Complete Solo Flights

Two Air Force master sergeants became the first enlisted Airmen in six decades to complete solo flights during Initial Flight Training (IFT) at the 1st Flying Training Squadron in Pueblo, Colorado on November 3, 2016. Both soloed in a DA20 Katana at Pueblo Memorial Airport as part of the Air Forces IFT program, which is mandatory for all manned aircraft pilots, combat systems officers and remotely piloted aircraft pilots. The Air Force announced on Dec. 17, 2015, the initiative to train enlisted RPA pilot