To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Italian Air Force, a group of five T-6 Texan II aircraft, flown by 10 Italian Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training instructors led by Lt. Col. Andrea Cerri, the Italian Senior National Representative, took off from Sheppard AFB on a historic round trip.

The mission saw them land and fly over sites of historical significance, with a particular focus on the common aviation history shared between Italy and the United States. In homage to this anniversary, the formation flew over Chicago and New York City. The flyover of New York City was a particularly poignant moment as the T-6s soared over the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline as a stunning backdrop, proudly carrying the tricolor Italian flag.