Piano burn makes for a night to remember

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Agneta Murnan
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Pilot training tradition at Vance Air Force Base encourages graduating classes to celebrate their assignment night, during which student pilots learn their follow-on airframes, with unique flare. Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 08-09's night was no exception, except the unique flare was flames of a piano burn.

2nd Lt. Whit Collins, member of JSUPT Class 08-09, was aware of two sets of memories taking place Friday -- a class celebrating the coming end of a hard journey through pilot training, but also the memories of four pilots lost recently in two T-38 Talon aircraft accidents at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. and Sheppard AFB, Texas.

"I remember hearing a story that a piano burn was an Air Force tradition," said Lieutenant Collins. "This burn was a dedication to those lost." 

The old piano was donated by his music-minded roommate, 2nd Lt. Dan Moss of JSUPT Class 08-07.

"The moment was exactly what I expected. A few students knew the pilots who had passed. For them, it meant a lot, but even for those who didn't know the pilots, they knew what the dedication signified," Lieutenant Collins explained.

The burn took place outside of the Vance Collocated Club in a sandpit in coordination with the Vance Fire Department and base leadership.

"I'm very proud of Class 08-09 for putting together this fitting tribute to our fallen brothers at Columbus AFB and Sheppard AFB. I am very thankful to Lt. Col. Brian Tonnell, Operations Group deputy commander, for his fitting toast, and to Team Vance for allowing this long-standing tradition to continue," said Capt. Ryan Venhuizen, the 25th Flying Training Squadron's H Flight commander. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Maj. Blair Faulkner, Maj. Brad Funk, Lt. Matthew Emmons and Lt. Alec Littler as they mourn their loss."