Vangelisti completes his fini-flight

Members of the 433rd Airlift Wing greet Col. Aaron G. Vangelisti, 433rd AW vice commander with a spray of water after his fini flight, May 1, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Vangelisti leaves the "Alamo Wing" to serve as the Fourth Air Force vice commander at March Air Reserve Base, California. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Philip Cortez)

433rd AW Vice Commander completes fini-flight

Published May 3, 2015
By Capt. Philip Cortez
433 Airlift Wing

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- With clear blue skies and rays of sunshine, Col. Aaron G. Vangelisti, 433rd Airlift Wing vice commander, completed his final flight here on May 1.

The colonel's last flight (fini flight) follows a tradition in which aircrew members, upon completion of their final flight with the wing, are met and hosed down with water by their squadron's comrades, family and friends.

"I feel like the luckiest man alive; to be able to do something I love for this long with such a professional group of Airmen," stated Vangelisti. "It has been truly an honor."

Vangelisti served as the vice commander of the wing from Nov. 2011 to May 2015, and he leaves the "Alamo Wing" to serve as the Fourth Air Force vice commander, March Air Reserve Base, California.