Phil's Fini Flight

I've been flying for...well, almost ten years (Wow! It doesn't seem that long...). Heading to this next assignment for school means I'll be out of the cockpit for at least a couple of years. The Air Force has a tradition to "wet-down" their pilots after their last flight and I got the full treatment yesterday.

The girls were excited to meet me on the flightline after my flight--and "spray Daddy with water!" Katie and the best wives network in the Air Force got things organized for a Tommy Joe's BBQ celebration at the squadron bar--I mean "Heritage Room"--afterward.

I flew my last C-17 mission with two good friends, Matt and Steven; we flew the winglets off the jet, saw some sights and may have even "buzzed the tower" on the last approach. It was something special and fun to see my three girls and boy at the end of the taxi lane marshalling me in for parking.

The Rat Pack and a (bigger than expected) group of my coworkers and wing leadership were out to meet me, too. I think my fellow pilots took a lot of pleasure in making sure the girls knew how to use the fire extinguishers.

(Click any of the pics for bigger...and more!)