D-M A-10A graduation

Lt. Col. Thomas Zupancich, 358th Fighter Squadron commander, presents 1st Lt. Edward Brady, 358th Fighter Squadron, with the distinguished graduate award during the A-10A course graduation here Oct. 2. Lieutenant Brady was one of nine pilots to graduate the last A-10A class. After 32 years of qualifying pilots for the A-10A, students will now learn how to fly the A-10C, which has upgraded avionics and weapons delivery capabilities. The course is a six-month class that provides the pilots with 215 hours of academics, 52 hours in the simulator, 41 sorties, and 87 hours of flying time. Lieutenant Brady was also the class "Top Gun." Five of Lieutenant Brady’s classmates will be assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, which is the last unit still flying the A-10A. All of the pilots will eventually return to Davis-Monthan for the conversion training course. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero)