82 TRW commander takes final flight

Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd Training Wing commander, stands in front of a T-38 in the ENJPPT aircraft parking area with Maj. Brian Collins of the 80th Operational Support Squadron before his "fini-flight" on Mar. 26, 2012. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S, Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

82 TRW commander takes final flight

Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd Training Wing commander, sits in the back seat of a T-38 in the ENJPPT aircraft parking area with Maj. Brian Collins of the 80th Operational Support Squadron during pre-flight operations before his "fini-flight" on Mar. 26, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

82 TRW commander takes final flight

The fire department sprays water in a salute to Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd Training Wing commander, after his T-38 "fini-flight" on Mar. 26, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

82 TRW commander takes final flight

Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd Training Wing commander, along with Maj. Brian Collins of the 80th Operational Support Squadron, taxi's back to the ENJPPT parking area after his T-38 "fini-flight" on Mar. 26, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

82 TRW commander takes final flight

Col. Om Prakash, 82nd Training Wing vice-commander hoses down Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd TRW commander, with water after his T-38 "fini-flight" on Mar. 26, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

82 TRW commander takes final flight

Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 82nd Training Wing commander, suits up as Col. Dieter Bariehs, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, looks on before his T-38 "fini-flight" at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas on Mar. 26, 2012. Fini-flights are a long-standing military aviator tradition honoring a pilot or commander on their departure from an assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

"Sheriff" takes to Texoma skies one final time

Published March 27, 2012
By Dan Hawkins
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, commander of the 82nd Training Wing, took to the sky in a T-38 for a celebratory final flight on Mar. 26th as he nears the end of his tour at Sheppard Air Force Base.

Burke will hand over command of the 82nd TRW to Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini during a change of command ceremony set for Apr. 13th.

The "fini-flight" is a long-standing military aviator's tradition marking the end of a commander's or pilot's tenure after completing their final flight.

After going through mandatory pre-flight training, Burke, along with Maj. Brian Collins of the 80th Operational Support Squadron, received a status briefing from the step desk before donning their flight gear for the two-ship formation flight.

Once on the flight line and after the pre-flight walk around of the aircraft, Burke got strapped in as the navigator for his final flight.

The local area flight lasted approximately 45 minutes and a traditional water gun salute from the fire department was waiting on the ground as the aircraft taxied back to the parking area.

A crowd of on-lookers, including Burke's mom who flew in from the United Kingdom for the event, was on-hand as Col. Om Prakash, 82nd Training Wing vice-commander and others hosed Burke down.