23d WG commander flies heritage aircraft

U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, looks over preflight documents prior to flying the flag ship A-10C Thunderbolt II, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. All Air Force pilots must participate in flight operations to maintain their flying currency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

An A-10C Thunderbolt II, decorated with heritage patches, sits under a sun roof, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The “FT” on the tail section stands for Flying Tigers and was originally a tail flash assigned to Pope Air Force Base that stood for Fayetteville at the time, but was changed to Flying Tigers when the A-10s arrived at Moody in 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, performs a preflight inspection on an A-10C Thunderbolt II, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Before every flight, pilots must conduct an inspection using the pilots operating handbook. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Duffey, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, assists Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, during a preflight inspection, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Dedicated crew chiefs are a group of aviation mechanics who oversee the maintenance on aircraft that are assigned to them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, dons his helmet before flight, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Walls has served in various flying positions with units including the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Force Base, the Republic of Korea; and the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons when they were stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Duffey, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, reads a technical order, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Technical orders establish standardized policies and provide clear instructions for the safe and effective operation and maintenance of aircraft equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, prepares to taxi an A-10C Thunderbolt II, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Walls is a command pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, including 566 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Duffey, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, preforms a preflight check on an A-10C Thunderbolt II, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The purpose of the preflight assessment is to ensure that the aircraft meets regulatory airworthiness standards and is in a safe mechanical condition prior to flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jarmarkus Boyd, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, assists Lt. Col. Stephen Joca, 75th Fighter Squadron commander, during a preflight inspection, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Along with the responsibility of being assigned to a specific aircraft, it is tradition to paint the dedicated crew chief’s name on the side of their appointed jet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)

U.S. Air Force Col. Dan Walls, 23d Wing commander, taxis to the runway, April 6, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The A-10C Thunderbolt II Walls flew, is the flag ship aircraft that displays the 23d WG Flying Tiger emblem on the right side of the fuselage and a green tail flash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Rachel Perkinson)