56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (middle), 56th Fighter Wing commander, boards an F-35A Lightning II for his finial flight while Senior Airman Abilyn Minton (right), 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, observes, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and certain aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (right), 56th Fighter Wing commander, and Col. Matthew Johnston (left), 56th Operations Group commander, prepare for Rueschhoff’s finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and certain aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (right), 56th Fighter Wing commander, smiles to Col. Matthew Johnston (left), 56th Operations Group commander, before Rueschhoff’s finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and certain aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, prepares for take-off in an F-35 Lightning II before his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base. In July of 2022, after serving as Deputy Commander at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Rueschhoff assumed command of the 56th FW. After two years of serving at Luke AFB, he will relinquish command in July of 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Airman Abilyn Minton (left), 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, cheers as she taxis Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (right), 56th Fighter Wing commander, for his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. In July of 2022, after serving as Deputy Commander on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Rueschhoff assumed command of the 56th FW. After two years of serving at Luke AFB, he will relinquish command July of 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander returns in an F-35 Lightning II after his finial flight while 56th FW Airmen salute, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and certain aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, sprays people with a water gun from an F-35 Lightning II after his fini flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and some aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Part of the tradition is getting hosed with water by fellow Airmen as soon as they step out of the aircraft after the flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, is sprayed with water after his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and some aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Part of the tradition is getting hosed with water by fellow Airmen as soon as they step out of the aircraft after the flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, struggles out of the grasp of his fellow Airmen while they attempt to tie him up after his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (center), 56th Fighter Wing commander poses for a photo with family and 56th FW Airmen after his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and some aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

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56th FW commander's fini flight ends with a splash

Published June 27, 2024
By Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (middle), 56th Fighter Wing commander, boards an F-35A Lightning II for his finial flight while Senior Airman Abilyn Minton (right), 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, observes, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and certain aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Rueschhoff is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours in the F-35 and A-10, including 267 combat hours and has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)