Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, April 2021
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“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen” April 2021
Vol. 20, No. 4
INSIDE Luke fighter pilot tops 1,000 F-35 flying hours
by Capt. with the 63rd Fighter Squad-
Monique Roux ron through the Total Force
StorIES Enterprise that keeps Luke’s
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs mission going.
A servant’s heart, 2 Maj. Nicholas “JAKAL” Rallo, “I am honored to be a part
Enhancing wartime an instructor pilot with the of Det. 2 and to work with our
readiness, 3 944th Fighter Wing, became partners in the 63rd Fighter
Airman grants 56 wishes for the first Luke Air Force Base Squadron,” said Rallo. “I am
F-35 Lightning II pilot to attain
lucky to have such a great team
children, 4 1,000 F-35 flying hours, Feb. 22. to work with and to have been
Recovery, resilience can Rallo is an Active Guard one of the first pilots at Luke
transform, 5 Reserve member with the to transition to the F-35.”
Strongmen and strongwomen 944th Operations Group De-
compete, 6 tachment 2 and is integrated See fLying, Page 12
Active shooter exercise, 8/9
Chaplain’s thoughts, 10
Military working dogs retire, 12
Maj. Nicholas Rallo, F-35 instructor pilot with the
944th Operations Group Detachment 2, poses with
his parents in front of an F-35 Lightning II Feb. 23, at
Continue to get Luke’s latest Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. During this flight Rallo ex-
news and information from ceeded 1,000 flying hours in the F-35, making him the
these sources: https://www. first pilot at Luke AFB and the second in the Air Force Photos by Master Sgt. Louis Vega
aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ Reserve to reach this milestone. Rallo prepares for takeoff Feb. 23 at Luke Air Force Base.
https://www.luke.af.mil
and social media
Charting history: female pilot reaches 2,000 hours in F-16
Luke56thFW @LukeAFB
by Capt.
Date of publication Monique Roux tor pilot, and evaluator pilot. Col. Trena Savageau,
944th Operations
After separating from active
First Friday 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs duty in 2007, she transitioned Group commander,
of the month into the Air Force Reserve as a poses in front of an
Col. Trena “HaK” Savageau Traditional Reservist with the F-16 Fighting Falcon
Submission deadline is known for breaking barriers 944th Fighter Wing. after completing a mile-
15th day of the month and setting high expectations as “I switched to the Reserve after stone sortie Jan. 13 at
prior to date of publication the first female commander of my active duty service commit- Luke Air Force Base.
During this flight Sav-
ment because of the flexibility
the 944th Operations Group at
Veterans Luke Air Force Base. On Jan. 13, it gave me,” said Savageau. “I ageau exceeded two
wanted to have a family, be a
thousand flying hours
she crushed another goal as she
Tell us Your Story flew past her 2,000 flying hour stay-at-home mom and Reserve in the F-16, putting her
in the F-16C Fighting Falcon,
in an elite group of less
Citizen Airman.”
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees becoming the first female in the Luke AFB’s Total Force Enter- than 900 pilots world-
All military branches are included U.S. Air Force Reserve to achieve prise construct allowed Savageau wide to achieve this
Email name, phone number and a this milestone. to start her Reserve career as an milestone and the first
brief description of your service to Savageau, a 1998 U.S. Air instructor pilot with the 301st female to fly 2,000 F-16
amy@aerotechnews.com Force Academy graduate, has Fighter Squadron. Over the flying hours in the U.S.
served as an F-16 pilot, instruc- See hiStory, Page 6 Master Sgt. Louis Vega Air Force Reserve.
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