The entire Air Education and Training Command inventory of T-37s had been flying in the Ferris High Visibility paint system seen in this oil painting since 1987. In 2007, the artist was invited by the Commander of AETC to fly the aircraft ?one more time? before the planned retirement of the T-37 fleet. On arrival at Columbus AFB, MS, the artist found himself plugged in as the ?student? in a two-ship formation training sortie. "Rite of Passage" depicts the artist flying the number 2 aircraft as our two Columbus AFB T-37s engaged in that formation training sortie over the Mississippi countryside on 27 June 2007. Student pilots must master formation flying as a required milestone en route to receiving their wings on completion of the Undergraduate Flying Training Course.
