Global Aviation Magazine - Issue 19

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Edi t or :Kar lDr age

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andex ami nest hemoder ndaySl ov akAi r For c eandt hej our neyi t ’ st akent og ether e.

but i onst hi s PaulDunnmakestwocontri t i me wi t h pi ec es on Boei ng ’ s C17 Gl obemas t erI I IandOpal oc kaEx ec ut i v e Ai r por t .

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Zar ag oz aAi rBas ei nSpai n,homet ot heEj er c i t odelAi r e’ s T i g ers quadr on, Al a15, oper at or soft heF/ A18Hor net .

Emai l :gar et h@gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om n Wi l l s makes hi s GAM debutas Kevi l ooks bac k att he Ger man L uf t waf f e’ s J G71 “ Ri c ht hof en” and i t s as s oc i at i on wi t h t he Mc Donnel l Doug l as F4F Phant om I I .

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l ooksbac katt hehi s t or yoft heUkr ai ni an Ai r For c e’ s bas e at Bel bek near Sev as t opol .

Toadv er t i s ei nGl obalAvi at i onMagazi ne: Tel :+44( 0) 7912311379 Emai l :adv er t s @gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om

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© Gl obalAvi at i on Resour ce 2013.Al l r i ght s r es er v ed. Gl obal Avi at i on Resour ce' sphot ogr aphi candwr i t t enwor k i ss ubj ec tt oc opy r i ght and may not be r epr oduc ed i n any f or m wi t hout ex pr es s wr i t t enper mi s s i on.

I fy ouwoul dl i k et odi s c us sus i nganyofour i mager yorf eat ur ec ont entpl eas ec ont ac tus .

The GLOBA L A VI A TI ON RESOURCE

PRI NT &GI FT STORE

Hi ghqu al i t yav i at i oni mager yav ai l abl ef or pu r c h as ei nav ar i et yof f or mat s f r omr egu l ar pr i n t st h r ou ght ocan v aspr i n t s , T s h i r t s , mou s emat s , paper wei gh t san dmu c h , mu c hmor e.

P l eas ev i s i t t h ewebs i t ebel owt os eet h ei mager yal r eadyav ai l abl e.I f y ou ar eu n abl et of i n dwh at y ouar el ook i n gf or , pl eas edr opu sal i n ean dwewi l l doou r bes t t os at i s f yy ou r r equ i r emen t .

EDI TORI AL

Backi nJ une,t hi smos tunex pect edoppor t uni t ypr es ent edi t s el f al ongs i deAvr oVul canXH558andt heRV8t or s ,I ’ dhaveneverh

as al r eady ment i oned, wi t h gr eatcont entf r om acr os st he gl obe des per at et os ee t he l i ghtofday,we’ vedeci dedt o keep t he RAF s t uf fback f or I s s ue20.

publ i s hed our ‘ news i er ’ cont ent , t he s wi t ch t o bi mont hl ypubl i cat i on ofGAM doesmeant hatt hi swi l lbet he cas e t o an even gr eat er ex t ent .I naddi t i ont ot hat ,you wi l l ofcour s es t i l l beabl et of i nd Whi l e t he Gl obal Avi at i on r eams of i nt er vi ews , ai r s how Res our ce webs i t e hasal ways pr evi ews and r evi ews ,bl ogs , been t he pl ace we’ ve vi deosand much,muchmor e

l ft omeatl at enot i ce.Hadyout ol dme,even48hour sbef or et hi spi ct ur ewast aken,t hatI ’ dbef l yi ng havebel i evedi t !Whatapr i vi l ege( andas i ght ) !( Kar lDr age)

overonGAR. On S unday, 11 Augus t ,t he avi at i on ent hus i as tcommuni t y becameapoor erpl acewhen Mi ckF r eer-one oft he ni ces t guysyou coul d everwi s ht o meet-s adl ys uccumbed t oa di s eas e we al l hoped and bel i evedhe’ dbeat en.

A member of t he Royal Obs er verCor psi nt he 1960s , Mi ckwasVi ceChai r manoft he S kyf ame S uppor t er s S oci et y and hel ped t o s ave many hi s t or i c ai r cr af t ,a numberof whi ch now r es i de i nt he I WM col l ect i onatDux f or d.

wi t h count l es s publ i cat i ons s i nce meanhi sl egacywi l ll i ve oni nbot hwor dsandpi ct ur es .

Hi scont r i but i onsi nvar i ousr ol es

edi t or @gl obal avi at i onmagaz i ne. com

T hanks f or ever yt hi ng, Mi ck.

We’ l l al l mi s syoudear l y.

Kar lDr age Edi t or

SL OVAK

MODERNDAYA

2013s eesS l ovaki a cel ebr at e 20year sofi ndependence f ol l ow Cz echos l ovaki aon1J anuar y1993.

Davi deDaver i ovi s i t sF i ght erWi ngS l i acand Hel i copt erWi ngPr e Sl ovakAi rF or ces i ncei t sf or mat i onandcons i der swhatt hef ut ur e

AKI A’ s

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wi ng t he end ofcommuni s tr ul e and t he event ualbr eakup of

r es ov,ex ami nest hechangest hathavet akenpl acewi t hi nt he ur emayhol d.

ByDavi deDaver i o

T hi sMi G21MFwaspr es ent edt ot heRoy s pr eadT om Gi bbons )

Sl ovakAi rF or ce T he moder n S l ovak Ai rF or ce ( Vz duš né S i l y Oz br oj enýchS í l S l ovens kej Republ i ky)wasof f i ci al l y cons t i t ut ed i n 1993 af t er t he di s s ol ut i on of Cz echos l ovaki a and t he bi r t h of t he Cz ech Republ i c and S l ovaki a.T he f r ont l i ne equi pment wass ubdi vi dedbet weent het wonat i onsona2: 1 r at i oi nf avouroft heCz echRepubl i c.

Al ar genumberand var i et yofai r cr af twer et hen r eor gani s ed and bas ed att he mai n ai r por t s : Mi G21,Mi G29,S u22,S u25,An24,An26,T u154, L 29,L 39,L et 410,Mi 2,Mi 8,Mi 17andMi 24wer e di s t r i but edbet weenS l i ač,Pr eš ov,T r enčí n,Koš i ce, Kuchyňa and Pi eš t any.Apar tf r om S l i ač,whi ch wasal r eady hos t i ng a f i ght ers quadr on att hat t i me,t he ot herbas eswer e notpr epar ed f ort he ar r i val oft hei rnew r es i dentai r cr af t .

Af t er an i ni t i alphas e i n whi ch ai r cr af t wer e as s i gned t o mi x ed r egi ment s ,a r eor gani s at i on f ol l owed i nt he comi ng year s .T hi sr es ul t ed i nt he movementofai r cr af t ,di s bandmentofs quadr ons and ai rr egi ment s , and bas e cl os ur es .T he headquar t er soft heAi rF or ce,s t at i onedunt i l 1999 i nT r enčí n,wasmovedt oZ vol en,al i t t l eci t ynots o f arf r om S l i ač.T r enčí nwast hencl os edi n2001.

T heMi G21F i s hbedsbas edatS l i ačandKuchyňa, S u25F r ogf oot sf r om T r enčí n and t hen Kuchyňa, and S u22F i t t er satKuchyňa,wer e pr ogr es s i vel y wi t hdr awn,wi t hs omeai r cr af tbei ngs t or edatt hei r homebas esorbei ngs ol dt omus eumsandpr i vat e owner s .T he ai r t ogr ound r ol e wasabandoned, al t hough i t was par t i al l y cover ed by L 39Z A Al bat r os .T heL 29Del f i ns ,us ed ast r ai ni ngai r cr af t ands cat t er edar oundmanybas es ,wer er et i r edi n l at e1990,l eavi ngt hei rdut i est ot heL 39s .

Koš i ce and Pi eš t anywer e cl os ed.New F ul cr ums wer e pur chas ed f r om Rus s i a t o r epl ace t he ex i s t i ngex ampl eswhi chwer es t ar t i ngt obecome qui t e ol d and wor n. Asa cons equence ofal l t hes e changes ,t oday' sS l ovak Ai rF or ce i s es s ent i al l ydi vi dedbet weent hr eebas es ,eachof whi chhasas i ngl er ol e.

Pi ct ur edatt he1999Royal I nt er nat i onal i ss t i l l act i ve t oday, al bei ti n a v camouf l age.

oyal Ai rF or ceBenevol entF undbyt heS l ovakAi rF or ceatt he1994I nt er nat i onal Ai rT at t oo ( Al l i magest hi s

al Ai rT at t oo,t hi sAn26“Cur l ” ver y di f f er ent gr een/ s and

L i ke t he Mi G21above,t hi sMi G29A i ss een atI AT‘ 94,wher ei t di s pl ayed.I thadbeenwi t hdr awnf r om s er vi cebyS ept ember2007 andwass t or edatS l i ac.

T heMi G29r emai nst heS l ovakAi rF or ce’ spr i mar yf

F i ght erWi ngSl i ač T hemai nWi ngoft heS l ovakAi rF or cei s t heF i ght erWi ng bas ed i nS l i ač,a s mal l t ownl ocat edi nt hemi ddl eoft heS l ovak Republ i c.T he hi s t or y of t he t own i s cl os el yconnect edt ot hecons t i t ut i onof t he ai r bas e: i nf act , af t er t he f i r s t bar r acksoft hes ocal l edL et i s koT r i Duby ( t he T hr ee OaksAi r por t )wer e bui l ti n 1938,t wo s mal lvi l l ageswer e mer ged t oget hert o cr eat eS l i ač.Dur i ng Wor l d WarI I ,t heai r por twasbombed s ever al t i mesbyt heAl l i edf or ces ;i n1944,when t he S l ovakNat i onalUpr i s i ng began,T r i Duby pl ayed an i mpor t ant r ol e ( t oget herwi t ht henear byZ ol náai r f i el d) as bas e of t he 1s t Cz echos l ovak I ndependentF i ght erAi rRegi mentl ed

by Wi ng CommanderF aj t l ;undert he cont r oloft he S ovi etAi rF or ce,t he Ai r Regi mentf l ew manymi s s i onswi t ht hei r L avochki nL a5F Nsagai ns tt heGer mans unt i lt hey r egai ned cont r ol of t he mi ddl eS l ovakr egi onbyt heend oft he s ameyear .

Af t ert he war ,t he US S Ri nf l uenced t he or gani s at i onoft heCz echos l ovaki anAi r F or ce and t he ai r por t s bas ed i nt he S l ovaki an r egi on wer e as s i gned t o s econdar y r ol es ( educat i on and t r ai ni ng) .I n 1968,t he ai r por twass et undert heaegi soft heWar s aw Pactand ut i l i s ed bot h f i ght er s and at t ack hel i copt er s .T hi ss i t uat i on l as t ed unt i l 1990 when t he S ovi et s moved back home af t ert he “Vel vetRevol ut i on”i n December1989.

One year l at er ,t he f i r s t Mi G21MF l anded at S l i ač t o f or m t he 81 S amos t at ná S t í haci a L et ka ( I ndependentF i ght erS quadr on) ,whi ch oper at ed s i ngl e and t wos eatMi G21 f i ght er sandf ourL 39s .

Ast hemar ki i ngsont het ai l i ndi cat e,t hi sL 39CM i s

yf as tj etas s et( Davi deDaver i o)

i soper at edby2.S L tf r om S l i ač ( Davi deDaver i o)

T he s pl i toft he f or merCz echos l ovaki ai n t he t wo r epubl i csbr oughtot herchanges t oS l i ač Ai rBas e,mos t not abl y wi t hi t becomi ng t he mai nf i ght erai rbas ei n S l ovaki a and r ecei vi ng Mi G29s ,L 39sand Mi G21s .New s quadr onswer econs t i t ut ed i n or der t o or gani s e t he mul t i t ude of ai r cr af tnow par kedont heconcr et e.S o,1 S t í hací L et ecký Pl uk ( F i ght er Avi at i on Regi ment )wasf or med wi t ht he f ol l owi ng i ndi vi dual s quadr ons :1 S t í haci a L et ka ( equi pped wi t h Mi G29and Mi G29UB) ,2 S t í haci aL et ka ( Mi G21) ,3 S t í haci aL et ka ( L et 410andhel i copt er sf orS ARr ol e)and4 S t í haci aL et ka( Mi G21) .

I n t he mi d‘ 90s t he 1s tF i ght er Wi ng, r enamed as31s tF i ght erWi ng,r ecei ved f our t een new Mi G29s ,butdue t of ur t her r eor gani s at i on s ome ofi t sMi G21swer e wi t hdr awnf r om t hef r ont l i neands t or ed.At t he begi nni ng oft he new mi l l enni um,t he r emai ni ng F i s hbedswer es t or ed ors ol dt o pr i vat e col l ect or sand mus eums ,l eavi ng t hef r ont l i neex cl us i vel yt ot heF ul cr ums .

Af t ert he S l ovakAi rF or ce j oi ned NAT Oi n 2004,t wel veMi G29swer eupgr aded wi t h new navi gat i on and communi cat i ons equi pment( i ncl udi ng new r adi os ,I F Fand GPSr ecei ver )t ocompl ywi t ht heAl l i ance s t andar ds .T hi supgr ade wasconduct ed byMi G Ai r cr af tCor por at i onus i ngami xof Wes t er nand Eas t er nbui l tavi oni cs ys t ems : Rockwel lCol l i nspr ovi ded t he mul t i mode s hor t r ange navi gat i on and l andi ng r ecei ver , BAE S ys t ems s uppl i ed t he I F F t r ans ponderandHRS mi t hcont r i but edwi t h t he mul t i f r equency emer gency r adi o beacon.Addi t i onal l y,Goodr i ch L i ght i ng S ys t emswasr es pons i bl ef ort henavi gat i on l i ght i ng, whi l e t he Rus s i anmade MI L S T D1553Bdi gi t albusr epl acedt heol d anal ogwi r i ng,t oget herwi t hanew mi s s i on comput er , a vi deo r ecor der and Mul t i F unct i onal Di s pl ays( MF Ds ) .

6124,aMi G29ASbel

T he upgr aded f l eetbecame par toft he NAT O I nt egr at ed Ai rDef enceS ys t em ( NAT I NADS )t wo year sl at er ,whent wof i ght er swer eas s i gned t o t he f ul l t i me Qui ckReact i on Al er t( QRA)under NAT O cont r ol .I nt he s ame year ,t he Mi ni s t r yof Def ence s i gned a cont r act wi t h t he Hyper s t eal t h Bi ot echnol ogy Cor por at i on t o appl yanew camouf l agepat t er nt oi t sF ul cr um f l eet :t woai r cr af twer epai nt ed wi t ht heDi gi t al T hunderand t he Cl oudcam f r act alpat t er ns ( bot hut i l i s i ngt hr eecol our s-bl ue,medi um gr ey, l i ghtbl uegr ey–t obet t erconceal t heai r cr af ti n al lt he pos s i bl e backgr ounds wher e t hey oper at e) ,butt he cont r actwass us pended f or

economi cr eas ons .

Recent l y t he ai r por t under went s ome i mpr ovement sf i nanced by NAT O and t he Eur opeanUni ont or enew t he r unwayand t he s t r uct ur es .T hes e wor ksl as t ed f r om mi d2009t o mi d2010,and dur i ng t hi st i me f r ame ai r cr af t wer et r ans f er r edt oMal ackyKuchyňa,homeof t heT r ans por tWi ng.

T oday t he F i ght erWi ng i scompos ed oft wo oper at i onal s quadr ons .1S t í haci aL et ka“T i ger ”i s r es pons i bl ef ort heai rdef enceofS l ovaki aandi s equi pped wi t ht en ex ampl esoft he Mi G29AS .

el ongi ngt o1.s l t ,get sai r bor nef r om S l i ačf oranear l yeveni ngmi s s i oni ns t unni ngl i ght( Davi deDaver i o)

S omeot herF ul cr umsar es t or edont hebas eand coul dber et ur nedt os er vi cei fs uchaneedwer e t o ar i s e,des pi t et he f actt hatt hey have not beenupgr aded.T heoper at i onalconver s i onof new pi l ot sf r om t heAl bat r ost r ai neri scar r i edout us i ngacombi nat i onoft hef ul lmi s s i ons i mul at or i ns t al l edatt hebas eandact ual f l yi ngi nt het wo s ur vi vi ngt wos eatMi G29UBS s .T heS quadr oni sa memberoft he T i gerAs s oci at i on and r egul ar l y t akespar ti nt heannualT i gerMeet .Des pi t et he ageoft heai r cr af t ,i ti sf ul l yoper at i onal ;t hi swas demons t r at ed dur i ng Oct ober2011,when t he QRAf i ght er swer ecal l edi nt oact i ont oi nt er cept a Qat arAi r waysA330 t hatl os tcont actwi t h

Cz ech AT C.Once i tent er ed S l ovakai rs pace, t he Mi G29swer er eady t o es cor ti tal ong i t s r out e,af t erhavi ng r ecei ved as s ur ancest hat pas s enger swer e noti n dangerand t hatt he communi cat i onpr obl em wascaus edbyar adi o f ai l ur e. As t he Ai r bus ai r l i ner r eached t he Hungar i an boundar i es ,t he Mi G29s handed overt he r es pons i bi l i t yt ot he HuAF Gr i pens .

Regul ar l yt heF ul cr umsar et r ai nedbyNAT I NADS t os cr ambl e and i nt er cept‘ hos t i l es ’pl ayed by ai r cr af tofnei ghbour i ngNAT O count r i es( T ango S cr ambl epr act i ce) .

2S t í haci aL et kai st hes quadr ont hati si nchar geof t hel eadi nandadvancedt r ai ni ngofpi l otcadet s bef or et hei rt r ans i t i ont ot heF ul cr um.T hes quadr on i sequi pped wi t hs i xt oei ghtL 39soft wodi f f er ent var i ant s ( L 39CM t r ai ner and L 39Z AM l i ght at t ack/ t r ai ner ) . Al l t hes e ai r cr af t r ecei ved upgr adess t ar t i ngi n2005t omeetNAT O andI CAO s t andar ds f ort hei rcommuni cat i ons equi pment ( t he M i nt he acr onym s t andsf or‘ Moder ni z ed’ ) .

T hel i ght at t ackver s i oncoul dcar r yabout1300kg ofai r t ogr ound weaponson i t sex t er nalpyl ons al t houghi ti sno l ongerus ed i nt hi sr ol e.S ome of t he ai r cr af tr et ai nt he l i ver y oft he f or merBi el e Al bat r os y ( Whi t e Al bat r os es ) aer obat i c t eam, di s banded i n Apr i l2004.Aswel last hei rt r ai ni ng r ol e,2S quadr onai r cr af tal s oact sashos t i l esdur i ng T ango S cambl esf orCz ech Gr i penss t andi ng on QRA;mor eover ,i ti sa commonpr act i ce t ot r ai n Mi G29 pi l ot si n di s s i mi l ar ai r combat t r ai ni ng ( DACT )f l i ght s .

Wi ngAct i vi t i es T he F i ght er Wi ng has par t i ci pat ed i n many di f f er entex er ci s esandai rs howsar oundEur ope:i n addi t i ont ot heal r eadyci t edT i gerMeet ,i n2011i t t ookpar ti n‘ S er pent ex ’i nF r ance,‘ Eagl eT al on’i n Pol and,‘ New F I P’ i n Cz ech Republ i c,‘ S l ovak I nt er nat i onal Ai rF es t ’hos t edati t shomebas e,‘ Ai r Power ’i nAus t r i aandt he‘ Cz echI nt er nat i onalAi r F es t ’ .I n2012,S l ovakMi Gswer es eenat‘ RI AT ’at F ai r f or d, t he ‘ NAT O Days ’ at Os t r ava, t he ‘ F l or ennesAi rS how’i n Bel gi um,and agai nt he ‘ S l ovak I nt er nat i onal Ai r F es t ’ , wher e i t s r epr es ent at i ve ai r cr af tcar r i ed an amaz i ng t i ger headpai nt edonbot hf i ns .

T heF ut ur e?

I ti s not cl earwhi ch ai r cr af t wi l lr epl ace t he F ul cr umsandt heAl bat r os es .T hecur r entpl ani sf or t hem t or emai ni ns er vi ce f ormany year s as f i nancesf ora r epl acementar es t i l lt o be f ound.

S omes our ceshaves ai daboutt hepos s i bi l i t yofa j oi ntacqui s i t i onwi t hot herEas t er nEur openat i ons butt hi ss ol ut i oni sbecomi ngl es scr edi bl eaf t ert he deci s i on of t he Hungar i an and Cz ech gover nment st oex t endt hel eas eoft heGr i pens .

Wi t hbr aki ngchut edepl oyed,t hi sMi G2

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadDavi deDaver i o

29ASs por t i ngt henewer‘ di gi t al ’camouf l ages chemes l owsdownont heS l i ačr unway.

Hel i copt erWi ngPr eš ov T heai rbas eofPr eš ovi sl ocat edi nt heeas tof S l ovaki a, about 100 km away f r om t he Ukr ai ni an bor der s .I t shi s t or yi squi t er ecent anddat esonl ybackt ot he1990s .

I twast he end of1992,t wo mont hsbef or e t he di vi s i on of Cz echos l ovaki a, when i t s Def ence Counci ldeci ded t o es t abl i s ht he 4t hAi rBas et her e,wher et he4t hHel i copt er Regi mentwoul d be bas ed.One yearl at er , t he Regi mentf or mal l yt ook up r es i dence.

T he bas e has al r eady had a numberof names and t he or i gi nal one was f i r s t changed t o34t hAi rBas e,t hen3r d Ai rBas e and l as t l yt ot he name i tcur r ent l ygoesby, Hel i copt erWi ngPr eš ov.

Dur i ng Oct ober2003,t he Pr es i dentoft he S l ovak Republ i c named t he ai r bas e i n honourofGen.J ohn Ambr us ,Commander oft heNo.312( Cz echos l ovak)S quadr onRAF dur i ngWor l dWarI I .

Al loft he hel i copt er sas s i gned t ot he Ai r F or cear epar toft heHel i copt erWi ng,whi ch i s cons t i t ut ed of t wo combat uni t s :t he Hel i copt erS quadr on and t he S AR/ T r ai ni ng S quadr on.T he f i r s tnamed i sequi pped wi t h Mi 17Msand t he s ur vi vi ng Mi lMi 8s ;i t smai n t as ki st he t r ans por t at i on and s uppor tof Ar my t r oops wi t h ex t er nal ar mament ( l oadedont hewi ngs ) .T heMi 17Msbecame s ol el yr es pons i bl ef ort he l as tnamed r ol ei n S ept ember2011 when t he l as t Mi 24D/ V at t ackhel i copt er swer er et i r ed f r om s er vi ce af t erhavi ng r eached t he end oft hei rl i f e.

T wooft hes eHi ndshaves omer es i dualf l i ght hour sbutt hey wer es t or ed i n cas et hey neededt obeoper at i onal l yr eact i vat ed.

Mai n -Pr eš ovi st he home t o a numberof ‘ Hi ps ’f ora r ange ofr ol esand pai nt ed i na var i et yofcol ours chemes( Davi deDaver i o) Ri ght-T he‘ Hi nd’i snol ongeri ns er vi cewi t h t he S l ovakAi rF or ce,t hough t wo ai r f r ames coul di nt heor yber es ur r ect ed ( Kar lDr age)

T he S AR/ T r ai ni ng S quadr on’ spr i mar yr ol es ,ast he name s ugges t s ,ar e S ear chand Res cue mi s s i onsand t he t r ai ni ng off ut ur e hel i copt erpi l ot s .

T he r ot ar ywi ng ai r cr af tus ed f ort r ai ni ng i st he J et r angercl as sMi lMi 2 Hopl i t e,a l i t t l e hel i copt ert hatwasf or mer l yus ed f orl i ghtt r ans por t at i on dut i esofgoods( up t o 700kg)and per s onnel( s i xt o ei ghtpeopl e) .T he Mi 17Hi pi st het ypedes i gnat ed f orS AR:f ourhel i copt er swer eupdat ed f ort hi spur pos e wi t ht he i ns t al l at i on ofan ex t er nalhoi s t ,a hi ghpower s ear chl i ghtmount edundert hecabi n,aF or war dL ooki ngI nf r aRed( F L I R) camer a,MF Dsand new avi oni csequi pment .I magesacqui r ed t hr ough t heF L I Rcanbedi s pl ayedonbot ht heMF Dsmount edi nt hecockpi tand ont hecons ol epl aced i ns i det hef us el age,wher es i xt o ei ghts t r et cher s canal s o be accommodat ed.T he car go r amp i sl ocked asbal l as thas beenaddedt obal ancet henew i ns t r ument at i onpl acedi nt hef or war d par toft hef us el age.T hi sver s i onoft heHi pi snotcapabl eofcar r yi ngout CombatS AR ( CS AR)mi s s i onsdue t o uns ui t abl e avi oni csand l ack of s el f def ens eweapons .

AboveandBot t om Mi 17M ‘ Hi ps ’ar e, f r om t he t i t l esca S ear chand Res cu t heS l ovakAi rF or ce

Ri ght-8746i sane Mi 2‘ Hopl i t e’s t i l li n Wi ngPr es ov.

T op l ef t-T he vi e cabi ni nt ot he coc numberofs t or edh s eent hr ought hew

Al l i magest hi ss pr e

ml ef t-T hes et woMi l ,asi sf ai r l yevi dent ar r i ed,us ed i nt he ue ( S AR)r ol e wi t hi n ce.

ex ampl e oft he Mi l i nus eatHel i copt er

i ew f r om t he mai n ckpi toft he Hi p. A hel i copt er scanbe wi nds cr een.

r eadDavi deDaver i o

T he Hel i copt erWi ng’ sdut i esdur i ng peacet i me i ncl udepr ovi di ng s uppor tt ol ocalcommuni t i esi n t i mes of nat ur al di s as t er , humani t ar i an r el i ef oper at i ons , medi calt r ans por t at i on, emer gency s uppor t and par t i ci pat i on i n peacekeepi ng mi s s i onsover s eas .

I nr ecentyear st he Wi ng hashel ped S l ovaki a’ s ci vi l i an aut hor i t i esdur i ng many weat herr el at ed di s as t er s ,l i kef l oodi ngandheavys now s t or ms ,and dur i ng gr eat f or es tf i r es t hat hi tt he T at r a Mount ai ns ,r ecei vi ng manyawar dsf ori t swor ki n t he pr oces s .T he S l ovak hel i copt er s wer e al s o depl oyed out s i de t he nat i onalboundar i es t o s uppor t NAT O peacekeepi ng mi s s i ons i n t he Bal kans :S t abi l i z at i onF ORce( S F OR) ,Kos ovoF ORce ( KF OR) and Eur opean Uni on F ORce ( EUF OR) Al t hea.

S F OR waspr es enti nt he t er r i t or y ofBos ni a and Her z egovi naf r om S ept ember2002unt i l t heendof 2003;t wo Mi 17swer e depl oyed t o Bugoj no,t he bas et hathos t edt heDut chdet achment .T heHi ps per f or medmor et han800mi s s i onsandf l ew at ot al of403hour s ,t r ans por t i ng 1500peopl e and mor e t han 100 t onsofgoods .T he det achmentwas wi t hdr awnf r om t heat r ef ol l owi ngar es ol ut i onf r om t heS l ovakGover nment ,duet ot woi nci dent st hat i nvol vedS l AFMi 17s :one,t hatpr ovedf at al f ort he cr ew,happened notf araway f r om t hei rhome bas eofPr eš ov,t hes econdoccur r edneart heci t y ofNovi T r avni k,BH. F ouryear sl at er ,t he KF ORmi s s i on wass uppor t ed bet ween December2007 and J une 2008;t wo Mi 17Mswer e det ached t oS aj kovac ( Kos ovo)t o per f or m t as ksasVI P/ t r oop t r ans por t sand goods car r i er s ,s ur vei l l ance,r econnai s s ance and ( when as ked t o)f i r ef i ght i ng.T he det achmentachi eved mor et han1000f l i ght sand about490f l i ghthour s dur i ngi t ss i xmont has s i gnment .

T he EUF OR cont r i but i on agai ni nvol ved t wo Hi ps bet weenF ebr uar yandJ une2009.T hedut i eswer e t he s ame asf ort he KF ORmi s s i onand t he S l ovak hel i copt er s f ul f i l l ed t hei rt as ks i n 359 f l i ght s accumul at i ng134f l i ghthour si nt hepr oces s .

Above -L i ke t hei rf as tj etcount er par t s ,s ome oft he S l ovak Ai r F or ce’ sMi l Mi 17Msar epai nt edi nadi gi t al camouf l ages cheme.

L ef t-T hi sver ys mar tar t wor kador nst hes i deofanumberofHi ps .

Bot hi magesDavi deDaver i o T he f ut ur e oft he Pr eš ov Wi ng i ss t i l luncl ear .I n or dert or educe def encecos t s ,apr opos al t omovet hehel i copt er st oS l i ači sunder cons i der at i on butnot hi ng hasbeen conf i r med yet .Mor eover , des pi t et hemoder ni s at i onoft heMi 17f l eet ,t hef actr emai nst hat t heHi psar eget t i ngol d and a r epl acementf ort hehel i copt erwi l l need t o be s el ect ed ats ome poi nt .T he NH I ndus t r i esNH90i sa s t at e oft he ar tmachi ne wi t hl ong endur ance and hasbeen s el ect ed bymanyEur opean count r i es ,buti ti sex pens i ve when compar edt oot hers ol ut i ons–amoder ni s edver s i onoft heMi 17Ms , per haps ,ort henewerMi 171.

T hecur r entcol ours chemecar r i edbyt heS l ovakAi r

T r ans por tWi ngKuchyňa T he Wi ng i n char ge of t he whol e t r ans por tf l eetoft heS l ovakAi rF or cei s bas ed neart hel i t t l et ownofKuchyňa, nots of arf r om t hecapi t al ci t y.

T heai r por twasbui l ti n1924wheni twas known asNovýDvor ,and i n 1933t he s ur r oundi ng s hoot i ng r ange was es t abl i s hed.Dur i ng Wor l d WarI Ii twas us edbyt heGer manL uf t waf f eandwas home t o a wi de r ange ofbomber s ( J unker sJ u87 S t uka,Dor ni erDo215 and Hei nkel He111) , t r ans por t ai r pl anes( J unker sJ u34andJ u52)and f i ght er s ( Mes s er s chmi dt BF 109 and F ocke Wul fF w190) ;s ome of t he bomber st ookpar tt ot he r ai d on t he T hr ee OaksAi r por t( S ept ember1944) , s t ar t i ng t he of f ens i ve agai ns t t he i ns ur r ect i oni s t soft he S l ovak Nat i onal Upr i s i ngt hatendedwi t ht her ecapt ur e oft he r egi on.I nt he meanwhi l e,t he ai r por t was bombed by t he Al l i ed F or ces ’ 15t h Ai rF or ce s t at i oned i n Nor t her nI t al y.

Af t ert he end oft he war ,Kuchyňa became a t r ai ni ng bas e and al s o pr ovi ded s uppor tf ort he ai r t ogr ound s hoot i ngr angeunt i l 1993,whent hes pl i t f r om t he Cz ech Republ i c br oughtt he bomberf l eett ot he bas e:S u22sand, l at er ,S u25swer ebas edher easpar tof t he 3 S t í hacíBombar dovacíL et ecký Pl uk ( F i ght er Bomber Avi at i on Regi ment ) .

2003s aw a maj orchange i nt he Wi ng when t he bomber s wer e gr adual l y wi t hdr awn or s ol d, and t he F i ght er Bomber Regi ment l ef t ,l eavi ng t he ai r f i el dt ot heDopr avnéL et eckéKr i dl o ( Ai rT r ans por tS quadr on) ,t hatchanged i t sdenomi nat i on t o Ai rT r ans por tWi ng t hr eeyear sl at erandt oT r ans por tWi ng ( t hecur r entdenomi nat i on)i n2009.

T hecamouf l agepat t er nwor nbyt hi sL etL 410UVPT t hi spi ct ur ewast akenatRi vol t oAB,I t al y,i n1995 ( T o

i rF or ce’ st woAn26“Cur l s ”( Mar kRous e)

PTT ur bol ethasbeens i mpl i f i eds omewhats i nce T om Gi bbons )

T oday' sdut i esi ncl ude t he t r ans por t at i on of peopl eandmat er i al sovers hor tandmedi um di s t ances ,dependi ngont heneedsoft heAi r F or ce and t he Mi ni s t r y of Def ence.

F ur t her mor e,t he Wi ng pr ovi dess uppor tt o over s eas peacekeepi ng mi s s i ons ,medi cal evacuat i on, s ear ch and r es cue, aer i al phot ogr aphy,l i ai s on,par at r ooper sai rdr op, t r ans por t at i on ofammuni t i onsf orbot h Ai r F or ce and Ar my,s uppor tt os hoot i ng r ange act i vi t i es and VI P f l i ght s . Al l of t hes e oper at i ons ar e conduct ed wi t ha l i mi t ed numberofai r cr af t :oneAnt onovAn24Coke, t woAn26Cur l sands evenL etL 410s .

I nJ anuar y 2006,one of t he t wo An24s bel ongi ng t ot he Wi ng cr as hed i n Hungar y whi l et r ans por t i ng t r oopsback home t hat had f i ni s hed a t ourofdut yi n Kos ovo,i n s uppor t of t he KF OR mi s s i on. 34 peacekeeper sand ei ghtmember soft he cr ew l os tt hei rl i vesi nt he i nci dentand onl y ones ur vi ved.T hecaus ewasat t r i but edt ot he pr emat ur e des cent of t he ai r cr af t whi l e appr oachi ng t he Koš i ce ai r por t .I twasnot cl eari ft hatmanoeuvr ewasduet ot heer r or of t he pi l ot s or a t echni cal pr obl em ex per i encedbyt he40yearol dai r pl ane.T hi s was ,and s t i l li s ,t he wor s ti nci dentt o hi tt he S l ovakAr medF or ces .

I n2009,asacons equenceoft hel os sandi n or der t o upgr ade t he medi umr ange t r ans por tf l eet ,t heS l ovakMi ni s t r yofDef ence s el ect ed t he Al eni a Aer onaut i ca C27Jasa r epl acementoft hei rAnt onovs ,butdue t o budgetcut st heor deri ss t i l l t obes i gned.

Acknowl edgement s :F i r s tofal lIwoul dl i ket o t hank1s tL t .Vr abel ova,att he Command of Sl ovak Ai r F or ce, f or gi vi ng me t he oppor t uni t yt ovi s i tt hei runi t sand r eal i s et hi s wor k;Secondl y,t o1s tL t .L ehetf orhi shel pi n expl ai ni ng t he Hel i copt erWi ng i n Pr eš ov; T hi r dl y,Capt .Mal at i nec atSl i ač Ai rBas ef or hi ss uppor tand f ores cor t i ng me dur i ng t he vi s i t ;And f i nal l y,al lt he per s onnelatbot h ai r bas esf ort hei rs uppor t .T hankyou!

OPAL OCKA

EXECUT I VEAI RPORT

T heCi t yofOpal ocka wasf ounded i n1926by avi at i onl egend Gl ennCur t i s s ,whor et i r ed f r om t heavi at i onbus i nes si nt he1920sandbecamea r eales t at e devel operi nF l or i da.T he unus ual name oft he ci t yi sact ual l ya cont r act i onofa S emi nol epl acename;Opat i s hawockal ocka, whi ch appar ent l yt r ans l at esas" t he hi gh l and nor t h oft he l i t t l er i veron whi ch t her ei sa campi ngpl ace" .

T hef i r s taer onaut i cal act i vi t yont hes i t e,whi chi s now occupi edbyOpal ockaAi r por t ,camewi t h t hear r i valoft heF l or i daAvi at i onCampi n1925; i nf actbyt he1930s ,t her ewer et hr eeai r f i el dsi n

t hear ea,wi t hCur t i s sal s odonat i ngt hel andf or Mi ami Muni ci pal Ai r por t and Al l Amer i can Ai r por t ,bot hofwhi chwer el ocat edt ot hes out h ofwhati snow Opal ocka Ai r por t ,onadj acent pl ot sofl and.

T he F l or i da Avi at i on Camp was par t of Opal ocka' s count r y cl ub ar ea and was bor der ed by a gol fcour s e and par kl and.I t f eat ur edabl i mphangarwhi chwasbr oughtup f r om KeyWes ti n1929;t hi swasus edt ohous et he Goodyearbl i mpwhi chs pentpar toft hewi nt er per i odi nMi ami .

Opal ockaExecut i ve Ai r por t ,s i t uat ed t o t henor t hofMi ami ,i s oneoft heol des tand mos thi s t or i c ai r f i el ds i nt he Uni t ed S t at es .

GAM pr of i l es t hi s f amous ai r f i el d and t al ks t o t he Ai r por t Manager , Nel s on Mej i as , about t he ambi t i ous f ut ur e pl ansf ort hes i t e.

Wor ds&Pi ct ur es PaulDunn L ef t-T he bui l di ng occupi ed by Mi amiEx ecut i ve Avi at i on,one of t hr ee F BOs cur r ent l y oper at i ng at Opal ocka Ex ecut i veAi r por t .

Gl enn Cur t i s s di ed i n 1930, and hi s es t at e t r ans f er r ed a pl otofl and t ot he nor t h oft he F l or i daAvi at i onCampt ot heCi t yofMi ami ;t he l andwast henl eas edt ot heUSNavyasaNaval Res er veAvi at i onT r ai ni ngBas e( NRAT B)T heNavy er ect ed a di r i gi bl e moor i ng mas t ,and t he s i t e became an i mpor t ants t op on t he Z eppel i n r out e bet ween Ger many,t he US and S out h Amer i ca.

Ex pans i onoft henavalf aci l i t yt ookpl acei nt he l at e 1930s , and i n 1940, NAS Mi ami was es t abl i s hed, cent r ed on t he NRAT B, but

i ncor por at i ng t he bl i mp hangar , di r i gi bl e moor i ngmas tandbot hAl l Amer i canandMi ami Muni ci pal Ai r por t s .

Dur i ng WWI I ,NAS Mi amiwasa bus yt r ai ni ng bas e,but wi t ht he end oft he war ,i t was decommi s s i oned and pas s ed t o Dade Count y Por tAut hor i t ywhi chbegandevel opmentofan ai r por ton t he s i t e.However ,t he ai r f i el d was r ecommi s s i oned as Mar i ne Cor ps Ai rS t at i on Mi amii n1951.Byt heend oft he1950s ,mi l i t ar y f l yi ng ceas ed on t he s i t e,and i tonce agai n pas s edi nt oci vi l i anhands .

I n 1962,Opal ocka Ai r por tcame i nt o bei ng, pr i mar i l y as a gener alavi at i on ai r f i el d,and r el i everai r f i el df orMi amiI nt er nat i onalAi r por t .I t r api dl y devel oped i nt o one of t he bus i es t ai r por t si nt he US ;r ecor dsf or1966 r ecor d an i ncr edi bl e 546, 985annualmovement s ,put t i ng Opal ocka s econd onl yt o Chi cago O' Har ei n t er msoft ot almovement s ;i ts houl d bepoi nt ed outt hatt hevas tmaj or i t yoft hes ef l i ght swer eby ‘ s por tand bus i nes s 'ai r cr af t ,butt hati ss t i l la r emar kabl es t at i s t i c.

T her eces s i onand oi lcr i s i si nt he1970sl ed t oa decl i ne i n t he number of oper at i ons f r om Opal ocka,butt odayt heai r por tmanagement

has ambi t i ous pl ans t o devel op t hi s hi s t or i c ai r f i el d wi t h new and i mpr oved f aci l i t i es .T he ai r por ti sadmi ni s t er ed byMi ami DadeAvi at i on Depar t ment , par t of Mi ami Dade Count y; Nel s on Mej i as i st he Ai r por t Manager of Opal ocka Ex ecut i ve Ai r por t( t he ai r f i el d was r enamed i n2006)and ex pl ai nshow t heai r por t f i t si nt ot hecount y' spor t f ol i ooff i veai r f i el ds . " T hewayi twor ksr i ghtnow i st hatMI Ai st hemai n ai r por t .MI A hasa s ys t em off ouraddi t i onal ai r por t s ;oneoft hem i st hi sone. " Oft he ot hert hr ee ai r por t s ,Kendal l T ami ami Ex ecut i veandHomes t eadGener al ar epr i mar i l y

T hi ss mar tBoei ng

GA ai r f i el ds .T he f i nalai r por ti nt he gr oup i s DadeCol l i erT r ai ni ng and T r ans i t i on Ai r por t ,an i s ol at ed,s i ngl er unwayai r por twhi chr epr es ent s t he onl y compl et ed par t of a pl anned s i x r unway ' J et por t 'whi ch wast o be bui l ti nt he l at e1960si nt he Ever gl ades .T he pr oj ectwas cancel l ed due t o ecol ogi calconcer ns ,and t odayt he r unways eesonl ya s mal lamountof t r ai ni ngact i vi t y.

MI Af r om addi t i onalai r cr af tt r af f i c,becaus e MI Ai ss etupr i ghtnow f ort hel ar gercommer ci al t r af f i c,MI Ahasal andi ngf ee.Opal ockaAi r por t i ss et up t ot ake t he s mal l ert r af f i cs o,f or ex ampl e,t her ei snol andi ngf eeouther e.T her e ar enof eesasf arasl andi ng,par ki ngands oon, becaus et hat ’ ss omet hi ngt odr aw ai r cr af taway f r om MI Aandal l evi at et hei rt r af f i c. "

T hepr i mar yr ol eoft heGA ai r f i el dsi nt heMDAD s ys t em i st o r el i eve conges t i on at Mi ami I nt er nat i onal Ai r por t ,asMr .Mej i asex pl ai ns . " I t ’ sas i mpl econcept ;wear et r yi ngt oal l evi at e

i ng707i ski t t edoutasanex ecut i vej etandi scur r ent l ys t or edatOpal ockaawai t i ngpos s i bl ef ut ur eus e.

Opal ockai sone S ovi etUni on.T he ex ampl ei si nbes

Whi l s tt her ol eofr el i everai r por ti sus ef ul i ni t s el f ,Mr .Mej i asi sal s okeent o emphas i s et hei mpor t anceoft heai r por tt ot hes ur r oundi ngcommuni t i es andal s oi t spot ent i al f orgener at i ngr evenuei ni t sownr i ght . " I deal l y,f r om my s t andpoi nt ,whatwe’ r el ooki ng f orr i ghtnow i sf or Opal ockaAi r por tt ogr ow.Weunder s t andt hatanyai r por ti nanyci t ywi l l be an economi c engi ne.T hati ni t s el fi spr os per ous ,and apar tf r om s ayi ngt hatt hecount yt akesi ns omuchmoney,mor es ot hatt heci t yi t s el f becomesmuch mor e af f l uent ,i t st axbas e gr ows ,and mor e wor ki s avai l abl e.T ot hatendwewantt os eet hi sai r por tgr ow. " CanIs ayr i ghtnow t hatOpaL ockaEx ecut i veAi r por ti smaki ngl oadsof money?Abs ol ut el ynot .Wear ei na gr owt hpr oces sr i ghtnow,and our whol eent i r edevel opment ,ever yt hi ngt hatwe’ r es ett odor i ghtnow,i s bas eduponget t i ngt hi sai r por tbackt ogr owt handget t i ngt heci t i est o gr ow wi t hi t . "

Ri ght-T hi sf or me s t or ed atOpal oc demi s eoft heBr az

L ef t-T hi s727waso t o Uni t ed Ai r l i conver t edt oi nt oa hasbeen der el i ct s ever alyear s an s cr apped, as pa management ' sef t hes i t e.

T op l ef t-T ypi f yi ng oper at or satOpaoper at ed by Al en f l i esr egul ar l y.

neoft hef ew Amer i canai r por t swher eonecans eedecentnumber sofai r cr af tor i gi nat i ngi nt hef or mer her ear es ever alAn26sont heai r por t ,i nvar i ouss t at esofr epai r ,al lbel ongi ng t oS RXAvi al eas i ng.T hi s es tcondi t i onandi scur r ent l ybei ngpr epar edt oonceagai nent ers er vi ce.

erF l ex 737300 i s ocka f ol l owi ng t he z i l i ancar r i er .

sor i gi nal l ydel i ver ed i r l i nes , but l at er anex ecut i vej et .I t ctatOpal ocka f or nd wi l ls hor t l y be ar t of t he ai r por t ef f or t st o cl ean up

gt he ni che car go al ocka,t hi sDC3i s l en Ent er pr i s esand

Devel opment Accor di ng t o Mr . Mej i as ,t hat gr owt h and devel opment mus t occur wi t hi n s peci f i c gui del i nesagr eedwi t ht hel ocal communi t y. " We have t o be par t ner swi t h ournei ghbour ci t i esi nt he devel opment ,and we have t o under s t and t hei r needs and t hei r concer ns , about noi s e i s s ues ,t r af f i c, ai r cr af t cr as hes , ever yt hi ng l i ke t hat .S o t o t hat end, t he commi s s i on has adopt ed a r es ol ut i on t hat bas i cal l ys t at est hatt hi sai r por ts hal l notbecome a commer ci alai r por t .Whatt hatmeansi st hat we cannot s er vi ce pas s enger ai r cr af t , s chedul ed orot her wi s e;t hatdoes n' tappl yt o t hecar gopar tofi t ,however . " T hecar gopar twecandevel op,buti nor dert o goaheadanddr aw i ncar gocompani es ,t her e ar e cer t ai n condi t i onst hathave t o be met .

Numberone i st he f aci l i t i esont he ai r f i el di t s el f havet obedevel oped enought os uppor tt hat t ypeofoper at i on. "

Car goOper at i ons Att he moment ,Opal ocka Ai r por ti sus ed by s ever als mal lcar go compani es ,who oper at e s hor tr anges er vi cest odes t i nat i onss uchast he Bahamasand KeyWes t .T hes ecompani esf i l la ni che t hatwoul d notbe pr of i t abl e enoughf or l ar gercompani es ,wi t hgr eat erover heads ,but t he ai r por ti skeen t o br i ng i n an es t abl i s hed car go car r i ers uchasUPSorF edEx .I nor dert o make t he ai r f i el d mor e at t r act i ve t o pot ent i al new t enant s ,t her e have been s ever alr ecent upgr adest of aci l i t i eson t he ai r por t ,i ncl udi ng t heemer gencys er vi ces . " Muchl i keever yt hi ngel s e,youcandevel opt he f i el dt oi t sbas i cr equi r ement soryou can go beyondt hat .I nourcas e,t hi sf i el di ss etupt ogo beyondi t .F orex ampl e,t her ei snor equi r ement f orust ohaveanact ualf i r es t at i onont hef i el d, butwedo. "

Abovel ef t-Oneofapai rofDougl asR4D8

Abover i ght-T hes mal l erendoft hef r ei ght

Bel ow -T hi si mmacul at eDC6( act ual l yaC r es pons et ooi l s pi l l ages .

8' S uperDC3s ' oper at edbyT MFAi r cr af t ,acompanys peci al i s i ngi ncar gos er vi cest ot heBahamas .

tmar keti si l l us t r at edbyt hi sCes s naCar avan.

C118L i f t mas t er )i sownedbyF l or i daAi rT r ans por t .I twasr ecent l yf i t t edwi t has pr ays ys t em t opr ovi de

T hepr emi s esoc

T her ei scur r ent l ypl ent yofbui l di ngwor kt aki ngpl aceonandar ound t he ai r por t .However ,notal loft he devel opment st aki ng pl ace ar e avi at i onr el at ed.T ot hewes t ,onl andwhi chf or mspar toft heai r por t s i t ei sadevel opmentcal l edAVEAvi at i onandCommer ceCent er .T hi s cur r ent l yi ncl udesal ar geUSPos t alS er vi cef aci l i t yandwi l levent ual l y be home t o s hops ,r es t aur ant s , di s t r i but i on f aci l i t i es and mor e.

Al t hough much of t hat act i vi t yi s not di r ect l yr el at ed t of l i ght oper at i ons ,i ts t i l l gener at esr evenue.T hats ai d,i ti si nt endedt hatt her e wi l l beanavi at i onas pectt ot hedevel opment .

“Event ual l ywhat ’ sgoi ngt ohappenwi t hAVE,i st hatwear ewai t i ngt o s eei ft heycanbr i ngi ns omeonel i keBanni onAi r( F l or i dabas edF BO) whi chwoul dbet heai r s i depor t i onoft hei rdevel opment .T hatwoul d br i ngi nwhatwewantt os ee–wewantt os eemor eai r cr af tt r af f i c,we wantt os eemor egr owt handofcour s e,devel opmentoft hef i el d. " T her e ar e cur r ent l yt hr ee F BOs oper at i ng on t he ai r por t ;Mi ami Ex ecut i ve Avi at i on,Or i onJ etCent erand F ount ai nebl eau.Or i onJ et Cent eri si nt hepr oces sofbui l di ngal ar genew f aci l i t yt ot hewes tof t he ai r por tcampus ,and anot hercompany,S hel t ai r ,wi l ls oonent er t hemar ketwi t hapur pos ebui l tl ocat i ont ot hes out h.

Recent l yt heai r oft i meex pi r ed, r es i dent s ,i ndoi

Bel ow -Wor ki scur r ent l yi npr ogr es sonabr andnew f aci l i t yf orOr i on J etCent er ,t or epl acet hecompany' sex i s t i ngpr emi s es .

F l or i dabas edA T hi si snow t heo ai r f i el d.

occupi edbyF BO F ount ai nebl eauatOpal ockaEx ecut i veAi r por t .

i r por tmanagementt eam havemadegr eatef f or t st ocl eanupt heai r f i el d.Atonet i met her ewer el ot s d,der el i ctai r f r amesl i t t er i ngt heai r f i el d.T heai r por ti si nt hepr oces sofs cr appi ngmanyoft hel ongt er m oi ngs of r eei nguppar ki ngs pacesandgener al l ygi vi ngt heai r f i el damor epr of es s i onal appear ance

Ar r ow Ai rceas edoper at i onsi n2010andt hemaj or i t yofi t sDC10f l eetendedups t or edatOpal ocka. onl ys ur vi vor ,andi twi l ls oonal s obes cr appedaspar toft hemanagement ' sef f or t st ocl eanupt he

T heAnt onovAn12i saver yr ar es i ghtatanai r por ti nt heUS !T hi st r i obel ongt oS RX s ees omeus eonr out est oCent r al Amer i caandt heCar i bbean.

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Above&bot t om l ef t-T heL ockheedJ et s t arbel ongst oapr evi ousgener at i on ofex ecut i veai r cr af t ;t hes et woai r cr af t ,par tofa t r i oofJ et s t ar ss t or ed at Opal ockahavenotf l ownf ors omet i me.

Bel ow -Anot herai r cr af tofS ovi etor i gi nbel ongi ng t oS RXAvi al eas i ng,t hi s Ant onovAn26i scur r ent l ybei ng di s mant l ed t os uppl ys par epar t st oot her ai r cr af ti nt hef l eet .

Mi ami DadeF i r eRes cueoper at est hi sBel l 412f r om Opal ocka;i ti ss eenher eper f or at r ai ni ngex er ci s eont heper i met eroft heai r f i el d.

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Al loft hi spr ogr es sr ecent l ycameunders omet hr eatasar es ul toft heF AA' sr es pons et o' s eques t r at i o or dert ocutcos t st ocompl ywi t ht her educt i oni ni t sbudget ,t heF AApr opos edcl os i nganumberofco t ower st hr oughoutt heUS ,l eavi ngai r por t swi t hnoai rt r af f i ccont r olf aci l i t i es .Whent hef i r s tl i s toff ac undert hr eatwaspubl i s hed,Opal ockawasoneoft heai r por t ss chedul edt ol os ei t sAT Cs er vi ce.

" Or i gi nal l yi twasl i s t edf orcl os ur e,butwemadeourcas et ot heF AApoi nt i ngoutt hatwear eanemer ge r es pons ef i el dandwear et hef i el dt hathandl est heUSCoas tGuar d.T hei rr es pons et i memeanti twasr neces s ar yf orust ohaveat owerandmanageal l t hef l i ght sal ongwi t hi t . "

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Coas tGuar dAi rS t at i onMi amihasbeenl ocat edatOpal ockas i ncet hemi d1960s .I t cur r ent l yoper at est heHC144OceanS ent r yandMH65C Dol phi n.T her equi r ementt o keepCGASMi ami i noper at i onmeantt hatkeepi ngt hecont r ol t oweropenwasi nt he nat i onal i nt er es t ,andt hi swass uf f i ci entt oper s uadet heF AAt or econs i deri t sdeci s i on.

I mmacul at eVenez uel anr egi s t er edDC3T P.

T hi s deci s i on was gr eet ed wi t hr el i efat Opal ocka; as Mr . Mej i as r el at es ,t he cons equencesofl os i ng t he AT C s er vi ce woul dhavebeenver ys er i ous . " Wi t houtt het ower ,wewoul dhavehadt o cl os e down t wo ofourr unways ,s o we woul d have been a s i ngl e r unway oper at i on.Att hatpoi nt ,t her e ar e ot her i s s ueswhi ch woul d have devel oped.F or ex ampl e,t he l onges tr unway we have 09L / 27R whi ch has I L S appr oaches f r om bot hendsbutwi t houtt het owerwecan’ t s wi t cht hem.S o ast he wi nd changes ,we woul dl os et heI L S . " Att hatpoi nt ,i twoul d have meantt he deat h oft hi sai r f i el d.We woul ds t i l lhave had f l yi ng t r af f i c,ai r cr af tcan s t i l lf l yi nt o uncont r ol l edai r s pace,butourcapabi l i t yt o gr ow woul d have been di mi ni s hed i ncr edi bl y. " I nt heend,f undi ngwass ecur edt oal l ow al l t he cont r act t ower s on t he s chedul ed cl os ur e l i s t t o r emai n open f or t he r emai nderoft hef i s cal year ;however ,even t hough t he i mmedi at et hr eathasgone, wi t h s eques t r at i on appar ent l y s et t o cont i nue f ors ome t i me t o come,i ti san event ual i t yt hatmayyetcomet opas sf or s omeai r f i el ds .

F ort hemomentt hough,t hef ut ur ecer t ai nl y l ooksencour agi ngf orOpal ockaEx ecut i ve Ai r por t ,wi t ht he management keen t o engagewi t ht het enant sand ai r f i el d us er s t o devel op t he ai r f i el di nt he cor r ectway, asMr .Mej i asex pl ai ns . " Notonl ydo we have t he F BOs ,we al s o have s mal lcompani escomi ng t o usand as ki ngf orl eas esal l t het i me.T her e’ sal otof i nt er es t and our t enant s become ver y val uabl e par t ner s , wor ki ng t oget her t o gr ow t hi sai r por t .When we s peak t o our t enant s ,t her ei sa s ens et hatwe al lgr ow t oget herorweal l f al l t oget her . "

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t l ybeenr es t or edbyF l or i daAi rT r ans por t ,t ooper at eal ongs i det hecompany' sf l eetofcl as s i cpr opl i ner s .

N150PAi saf or merUS AFConvai rVT 29Boper at edunt i l r ecent l ybyAi rT ahoma.

T hi ss mar tBeechH18i sr egi s t er edt oRuggedI nves t ment s ,al ocal company i nMi ami L akes .

T hats ames pi r i to communi cat i on i nt er act i ons wi t communi t y,wi t hs s ens i t i vear easne

" T he good t hi ng a t hat t hey unde ai r por ti st hei re and as l ong as t hem and t el lt devel opment sar e ar e pl anni ng on happy.T heyunde an ai r por tand how cl os et oi tt he

ofpar t ner s hi pand appl i es t o i t h t he l ocal s ever al ver ynoi s e ear by.

aboutt he ci t esi s er s t and t hat t he economi c engi ne s you can t each t hem what your r e,and whatyou n doi ng,t hey ar e der s t andt hatt hi si s t hey under s t and heyar e. "

T hi sDC4i sa f or merUS AFC54Ewhi chi snow par tofF l or i da Ai rT r ans por t ' s i mpeccabl yt ur nedoutf l eet .

Wi t ht hes uppor toft hel ocalcommuni t y,andal s ot hebus i nes s esons i t e, t hef ut ur ef orOpal ockaEx ecut i veAi r por tl ooksver ypr omi s i ng.

T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankNel s onMej i as( Ai r por tManager )andMar c Hender s on( Medi aRel at i onsManager ,Mi ami DadeAvi at i onDepar t ment ) f ort hei ras s i s t ancei npr epar i ngt hi sar t i cl e.

Anot herai r wor t hy Convai ratOpal ocka i st hi sf or merUS AFC131E,now ownedbyMi ami Ai rL eas e.

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Al a15 Z a r a

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t hebor derwi t hF r anceand170mi l eswes tofBar cel ona,Z ar agoz a hcommer ci al .Kar l Dr ageandS t eveCombervi s i t edAl a15,t he15t h ni s hAi rF or ce)t of i ndoutal l aboutt hi sF / A18Hor netoper at or .

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heS pani s hAi rF or cer ecei vedt hef i r s tofi t s Hor net son22November1985af t erpl aci ng an or der f or 60 EF 18A and 12 EF 18B model s( wher et he‘ E’i ndi cat es‘ Es paña’r at her t han‘ El ect r oni c’aswoul dus ual l ybet hecas e) , des i gnat ed C. 15 and CE. 15 r es pect i vel yi n s er vi ce. I n 1993,i twasannounced t hatt he Ej ér ci t o delAi r e’ sf l eetofHor net swoul d be upgr aded t oF / A18C/ Ds t andar d,af t erwhi ch t hey woul d be known by t he des i gnat i ons EF 18A+ and EF 18B+. T hos e number s wer e bol s t er ed i n1995when24ex USNavyF / A18As wer e pur chas ed and del i ver ed as EF 18A+ s t andar dai r cr af t .

T heZ ar agoz abas edAl a15–mot t o:“Qui enOs e

Paga”( “Who Dar est o Pay” ) ,i sone oft hr ee S pani s h Ai rF or ce wi ngst o oper at et he Hor net ( Al a 12atT or r ej onand Al a 46atGando,Gr an Canar i a,bei ngt heot hert wo)andi scompr i s ed oft hr ee s quadr ons : 151 Es cuadr ón “Car aa Car a”( “F ace t oF ace” ) ,cal l s i gn “T ORO” ; 152 Es cuadr ón “Mar sVi gi l a”( “Mar sAr e Wat chi ng Out” ) ,cal l s i gn “MART E” ; 153 Es cuadr ón “No S emos Nai de” ( “We Ar e Nobody” ) ,cal l s i gn “EBRO” .

151Es c and 152Es c ar e bot hf r ont l i ne Hor net s quadr ons ,capabl e ofoper at i ng i n ei t hert he ai r t oai rorai r t ogr oundr ol l s ,whi l e153Es cact s ast heoper at i onalconver s i onuni t( OCU)f oral l S pani s hAi rF or ceHor netpi l ot s .

Underper f ectbl ues ki es ,t heHor net sofAl a15r es taf t eracompact edday’ sf l yi ng ( Al l i magest hi ss pr e

151Es cuadr on’ sbadge ador nst he wal li nt he cr ewr oom al ong wi t h pi ct ur esofeach oft he s quadr on’ spi l ot s

r eadKar lDr age)

F l ags ,pi ct ur esand al lmannerofmemor abi l i a covert hi scor nerof152Es cuadr on’ shome.

Hi s t or y Al a 15 was bor n on 16 December 1985 ahead of t he ar r i valoft he Wi ng’ sf i r s t EF 18s .F ur t her mor e,Al a 15 hasbeen a f ul lmemberof t he NAT O T i gerAs s oci at i on s i nce J une 2008,havi ng f i r s t par t i ci pat ed i n t he 2006 edi t i on of t he NAT O T i ger Meet ,hel dont hatoccas i on at Al bacet e AB. I t sT i ger ances t r yi st r aced back t o S ept ember1956 when one of i t s f or ebear s , Al a 2, oper at edt heF 86FS abr e.

F r om 1994 t hr ough t o 1999, Al as12and 15par t i ci pat ed i n t he i nt er nat i onal oper at i ons as s oci at ed wi t h t he conf l i ct i n t he f or mer Yugos l avi a, i n doi ng s o not chi ngupt hel onges tever S pani s h Ai r F or ce depl oyment .

Vi s i t On ar r i val at t he Al a 15 bui l di ng,we ar e gr eet ed by ourhos tf ort hedayT eni ent e ( L i eut enant )J uan J os é de Ar r i ba Muñoz ,a Hor netpi l ot and t he wi ng’ s newl y qual i f i eds af et yof f i cer .

A bus ymor ni ng’ sf l yi ng i sont he car dsas Al a 15s t epsup i t spr epar at i onsahead of t he comi ng weekend’ s depl oyment t o Or l and AB,Nor way,f orNAT OT i gerMeet 2013.T hewi ngwoul ds ends i xai r cr af tand count l es sper s onnelt ot ake par ti nt he ex er ci s e,and,aswe woul dl ear nl at er , per haps s omewhat cont r ar y t o t he gener alper cept i ont hatNT Mi ss omet hi ng of‘ aj ol l y’ ,i ti svi ewedasanabs ol ut el yvi t al el ementi nt heuni t ’ st r ai ni ng pl ansf ort he year .

Asacons equence,al l of151and152Es c’ s oper at i ons f or t he day ar e s et t o be combi nedi nt oas i ngl ewaveof11ai r cr af t –t wof our s hi psandat hr ee.

T hef i nal s t agesofpl anni ngar ei npr ogr es s aswe t ake i n a whi s t l es t op t ouroft he bui l di ng t hati ncl uded br i efi nt r oduct i ons wi t h Cor onel ( Col onel ) F r anci s co Gonz ál ez Es pr es at i Ami án, t he commanderoft he 15t h Wi ng,and hi s s econdi ncommand,T eni ent eCor onel ( L t Col onel ) Muñoz ,wi t h whom we woul d s peakmor el at er .

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153Es cuadr ón Wes t opat153Es candmeetwi t ht heman i n char ge oft r ai ni ng new Hor netpi l ot s , Comandant e( Maj or )Rui z,and r et r ai ni ng t hos ewhoneedi t ,f orwhat everr eas on.

Kar lDr age

Above-T heai r cr af tt he153Es cs t udentpi l ot

1s or t i e( Kar lDr age)

twi l l bef aci ng:ACAS AC101Avi oj et( St eveComber )

St eveComber “When t he s t udent sar r i ve her e, t hey’ ve pr obabl y been i n t he S pani s h Ai rF or ce f orar ound f i ve year s .T heywi l l haves pentayear att he Academy and wi l lhave t henl ear ntt of l yt heT 35C ( ENAER T 35Pi l l an) .

“Bas i cj ett r ai ni ngi scar r i edouton t heCAS A C101Avi oj et ,andt hen pot ent i al f i ght er pi l ot s go t o T al aver a l a RealAB t of l yt he Nor t hr opS F 5BM. ” Comandant e Rui z has s i x i ns t r uct or pi l ot s at hi s di s pos al , i ncl udi ng a US Navy ex change pi l ot ,andcur r ent l yhasacour s eof s i xs t udentpi l ot si nt r ai ni ng.

As i de f r om pr ovi di ng an i nt r oduct i on t ot he ai r cr af t ,153 Es ci sr es pons i bl ef ort eachi ngnew Hor netpi l ot show t of i ghtwi t ht hei r new s t eed.Ont hemor ni ngofour vi s i t ,a 2v1s or t i e waspl anned agai ns taCAS AC101Avi oj et ,but Comandant e Rui zex pl ai ned t hat t he s t udent s coul d come up agai ns tanyoff ourt ypesandt hat i twas i mpor t antt hatt hey had ex pos ur et of i ght i ngagai ns teach s i nce t hey al lhave t hei r own nuances . Or di nar i l yt hey woul d notbet ol di nadvancewhatt ype t heywoul d be f aci ng ona gi ven day.

Outont hepl at f or m,s ome20j et sar eatr es taswewal k t ot hemai nt enancehangar ;ar oundt hr eequar t er sof whi chwer ebei ngpr epar edf ort hebi gmi s s i on.

Mai nt enanceHangar T hr ee Hor net s– t wo t wi ns t i ck B+ model s and a s i ngl es eat‘ M’–ar e pr es enti ns i de t he mai nt enance hangar ,andwear egi vent heoppor t uni t yt os i ti nt he cockpi tofoneoft het wos eat er s .F oranai r cr af tt hat l ooksbi g on t he gr ound,I–asa not es peci al l yt al l per s on –wass ur pr i s ed by j us thow cr amped i twas i ns i de. T hr ow i ns ur vi valequi pment ,gl ovesand a hel met ,and Ican i magi ne t hatqui t eal otoft he but t ons and s wi t ches woul d s oon become qui t e di f f i cul tt ol ocat e –vi s ual l yatl eas t–l etal one when s ubj ect edt os i gni f i cantgl oads .

One oft he EF 18B+ ai r cr af tpr es ent ,CE1501,was act ual l yt he f i r s tHor nett o be handed overt ot he S pani s hAi rF or ceandi ts t i l l car r i est hes peci al mar ki ngs t o commemor at et he s ur pas s i ng of100, 000hour sf or t heoper at orwi t ht het ypet hati twor ewhenat t endi ng RI AT2005atRAFF ai r f or d.

Mi dL i f eUpdat e 65oft heEj ér ci t odelAi r e’ sor i gi nalHor net swer egi ven aMi dL i f eUpdat e( ML U)atEADSCAS A’ sGet af ef aci l i t y nearMadr i d –wher e al lmaj ors er vi ci ng wor kon t he t ypei scar r i edout-s t ar t i ngi nJ anuar y2004.T he€185m pr ogr amme meantt he ai r cr af tr ecei ved moder ni s ed avi oni cs ,navi gat i onand communi cat i onsequi pment t hats houl denabl et hem t or emai ni ns er vi cet i l l ar ound 2020.T hes eai r cr af tar enow des i gnat edEF 18M. T eni ent e Ar r i ba poi nt soutt hatt he upgr aded ai r cr af t equi pt he Z ar agoz a and T or r ej onbas ed wi ngswhi l e Al a 46 us es t he f or merUS Navy j et st hathaven’ t r ecei vet heML Uupdat e.

“T he ai r cr af ti sgr eat ,par t i cul ar l ys i nce t he upgr ade.

T hecapabi l i t i eshavei ncr eas edt ot hehi ghes ts t at eof t hear ts t andar ds .Ourmul t i r ol ecapabi l i t i esar eeven gr eat err i ghtnow.F ur t her mor eal otofs acr i f i ceshave t obemadet or eachher e,butatt heendi twaswor t h i t .F l yi ngt heF 18i soneoft hegr eat es tex per i encesyou canachi eve. ”

Mai n-CE1501,t heEj er ci t odel Ai r e Bel ow l ef t-L ooki ngbackf r om t hef Bel ow r i ght-T her e’ snotasmuchr o

i r e’ sf i r s tHor net ,i ss eenunder goi ngmai nt enanceati t shomebas e. f r ontcockpi toft hi sEF 18B+. r oom f ort hepi l otasyoumi ghtex pect( Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age)

Equi pments ect i on T het ourcont i nueswi t has t opatt heequi pments ect i on,wher ewear eabl et os eet hepi l ot s ’f l yi ng equi pmentf i r s thand.As i def r om s i z edi f f er ences ,hel met sar eal l oft hes ames t yl e,butpi l ot shave t hechoi ceoft woox ygenmas kst os el ectf r om bas edonper s onal pr ef er ence.I t ’ samus i ngt onot e t hats omeoft hes ur vi val equi pmentcomescompl et ewi t h‘ T i ger ’t r i m!

Showt i me!

Bynow t hecr ewsar epr epar i ngf ort hei rupcomi ngmi s s i on,andi ti ss oont i mef ort hem t os t ept o t hej et s .Wewal kwi t h152Es c’ s“AS T UDI L L O”whowoul dbef l yi ngt heCor onel ’ sj etC1514/1501.

Af t ercompl et i nghi swal kr oundands at i s f yi nghi ms el ft hatt heai r cr af ti sf i tt of l y,hedonshi shel met , cl i mbst hes t epsandi sas s i s t edi nt hes t r appi ngi npr oces sbyoneoft heai r cr af t ’ sgr oundcr ew.

T heGPU( Gr oundPowerUni t )whi r si nt ol i f e,f ol l oweds hor t l yaf t er war dsbyeachoft heF 404GE400 t ur bof anengi nes .T hi si sourcuet ogetr eadyt omoves i ncewehaveadat ewi t ht her ot at i onpoi nt ofZ ar agoz a’ sRunway30L .

Al l i magesKar lDr age

Zar agoz aAi rBas e T hebas eatZ ar agoz ahadal r eadybeenhomet ot he S pani s h Ai rF or ce f ora numberofyear spr i ort ot he commencementofaddi t i onalcons t r uct i on wor ki n S ept ember1954 ast he Uni t ed S t at eshi ghl i ght ed i t s pot ent i al wor t hasas t andbybas edur i nganyt i mesof conf l i ct–par t i cul ar l yasconcer nsr umbl ed onatt he t i mer egar di ngt heongoi ngCol dWar .

Aswel lass t r engt heni ng and ex t endi ng t he ex i s t i ng r unway,as econdonewascons t r uct ed,par al l el t obut s i gni f i cant l y of f s et f r om t he f i r s t . T he wor k was compl et edi n1958andt hebas ebecameoneoft hr ee f aci l i t i esofi t ski nd i nS pai n,wi t h Mor on and T or r ej on bei ngt heot hert wo.

Des pi t et he f act t he US AF wi t hdr ew i n 1994,t he r emnant soft he pas tar es t i l levi dent ,mos tnot abl y amongs tt he bui l di ngsl ocat ed on t he s out hs i de of Runway 30L ,wher e a US s t yl e cont r olt owerand hangar sador nedwi t hi magesofUS AFai r cr af tt ypesof t he‘ 80sandear l y‘ 90scanbes een.

T her ampsi nf r ontoft hes ehangar swoul d hi s t or i cal l y have hos t ed vi s i t i ng US AF E ai r cr af t ,many ofwhi ch wer et empor ar i l ydepl oyedt ot akeadvant ageoft he cl os e pr ox i mi t y ofS pai n’ sonl yl i ve bombi ng r ange, l ocat edar ound100kmst ot henor t hwes ti nt hehear t oft heBar denasReal esNat ur al Par k.

Whi l et he r ange i ss t i l lact i ve,t he Amer i can ai r cr af t have gi venway( t houghoccas i onaldepl oyment sof Avi anobas edF 16scans omet i mesbef ound)andi t ’ s nor mal l y det achment s of out of t own S pani s h Ai r F or ce as s et st hat t ake up t empor ar y home at Z ar agoz a,t aki ng advant age oft he near byf aci l i t i es .

F ort hr eemont hsoft heyear–t hes t ar tofJ unet hr ough t ot heendofAugus t-Bar denasi scl os edt oal l ow t he f ar mer swhocul t i vat ecr opsont henei ghbour i ngpl ai ns t owor kt hel andwi t houtf ear i ngf ort hei rl i ves .

Ourvi s i tcomesatt hes t ar toft hatper i od,and r at her t hanf i ght erai r cr af tf r equent i ngt heconcr et eoppos i t e us ,mor et hana doz ent r ans por tai r cr af tar ecur r ent l y pr es ent ,t aki ngpar ti nt heEur opeanDef enceAgency r un Eur opean Ai rT r ans por tT r ai ni ng 2013 ( EAT T 13) ex er ci s e.

Kar lDr age

Kar lDr age

St eveComber

T hi sEF 18M bl as t sawayf r om Z ar agoz a’ sRunway30L .I nt he condi t i onst hatt hel ocat i onex per i ences( Kar lDr age) I n or der t o mi ni ni s e t ax i t i mes and f uel bur n – s omet hi ng whi ch i s par t i cul ar l y i mpor t ant i n t he cur r ent har s h economi ccondi t i ons–t he Hor net s gener al l y depar t f r om Runway 30L and r ecover t o Runway 30R. As ked how of t en t he ’ 12 end’get s us ed,T eni ent e Ar r i ba r es ponds , “Maybe t hr eet i mesa year ” .T hr ee daysl at erwoul d pr ovi de one s uch occur r ence, al bei tasIwoul d di s cover , t hewi ndwoul dr eal l yhave t o bui l di ns t r engt h bef or e t he s wi t ch was act ual l y made.

Wi t h t he s un beat i ng down, t he f i r s t t hr ee Hor net sl i ne up on t he r unway t o ourl ef tbef or e l aunchi ng i n a s t r eam.

AS T UDI L L O, wi t h whom we’ dwal ked,i si nt het hi r d ai r cr af t of t hr ee. F or T eni ent e Ar r i ba,t hi si sa ver yr ar e oppor t uni t yt o wi t nes s r unway movement s f r om a compl et el y di f f er ent per s pect i vet onor maland he pul l southi sphone t o capt ur e s ome of t he act i onf orhi ms el f .

S oon af t er ,a f our s hi p f ol l ows ,ahead ofa f ur t her t hr ee. One ai r cr af thad devel oped a pr obl em, caus i ngt hepi l ott oj umpi n t hes par ej et .I twoul d not be l ong,however ,bef or e hewoul dbechas i ngdown hi s al r eadydepar t ed comr ades .

edi s t ancevas tquant i t i esofwi ndt ur bi nescanbes een,t aki ngadvant ageoft hepr evai l i ngweat her

Above-Al a15mi ghtnothavebeenaf ul l NAT OT i gerAs s oci at i onmember f orver yl ong,buti t ss t at usi ss omet hi ng ofwhi cht he Wi ng i si mmens el y pr oud.

C. 1541/1528waspai nt edi n2010t ocel ebr at et he25t hanni ver s ar yof Al a 15Hor netoper at i ons ,and,asi sabundant l ycl ear ,‘ T i germar ki ngs ’ f eat ur epr omi nent l yi nt hedes i gn ( Kar lDr age)

Above -CE. 152 EF 18B+t hatf l ew d of our vi s i tr ot a Runway 30LatZ a Amer i can s t yl e co i nt hebackgr ound

Ri ght-1512bl as t s eager l y awai t i ng s kywar ds( Kar lDr a

L ef t-T he s oots t ai r adome cl os esi nd hass een s ome r e 20mm M61 Vul gat l i ngcannon ( K

2 / 1571,t he onl y dur i ngt hemor ni ng t at es away f r om Z ar agoz a,wi t ht he ont r olt owervi s i bl e d( St eveComber )

t sdownt her unway, i t st ur nt or ocket r age)

ai nar ea wher et he ndi cat est hat1511 r ecentus e oft he ul can s i x bar r el ed ( Kar lDr age)

Acl os e

T hemi s s i ondur at i onwasex pect edt ol as ts ome 90 mi nut es and t he i nt er l ude pr ovi ded t he per f ectoppor t uni t yt os i tdown wi t hT eni ent e Cor onelMuñozt ot al kaboutwhati tmeanst o be as s i gned t o Al a 15, s t ar t i ng wi t h i t s des i gnat edmi s s i on:

Wi t h pr epar at i onsf orNAT O T i gerMeet2013 pr ovi di ngt hewi ng’ spr i mar yf ocusatt het i meof ourvi s i t ,wecoul dn’ thel p butwonderj us thow i mpor t antt he ex er ci s ei st o Al a 15’ st r ai ni ng r egi me:

“T hi syear ,NAT OT i gerMeeti nNor wayi st heonl y “We ar et as ked f orai r t oai rand ai r t ogr ound ex er ci s ewewi l lper f or m abr oad.I not heryear s mi s s i ons ,s owecont r i but et ot heai rdef enceof we have par t i ci pat ed i nRed F l ag atNel l i sAF B

t he S pani s h ai r s pace underNAT O cont r oland and manyot herex er ci s es .T hes e ar e al lgr eat we ar e al s o pr epar ed t o f l y ai r t ogr ound oppor t uni t i est ot r ai n wi t h NAT O count r i esand mi s s i onswher everourgover nmentdeci desi t nonNAT O count r i es . want st os endus . ” “Wevi ew t aki ngpar ti nt heNAT OT i gerMeetas QRA ( Qui ckReact i onAl er t )r es pons i bi l i t yf ort he bei nganobl i gat i on,butmaybe,i fwewer enot S pani s hmai nl andi sr ot at edar oundt heEj ér ci t o a par toft he ( NAT O T i ger s )As s oci at i on,we del Ai r e’ sf as tj etbas es .Eachbas et akesi t st ur n woul dnotgett heoppor t uni t yt ot akepar ti na t oman‘ Q’f oraper i odoft hr eemont hs . Al a46 l ar ges cal eex er ci s eatal l t hi syear . atGando,Gr an Canar i a,meanwhi l e,r emai ns per manent l y on al er tt o def end t he ai r s pace “We f l yr egul ar l y wi t h F r ench uni t sf or ai r ar oundt heCanar yI s l ands . def ence mi s s i onsf ormaybe t wo days ,butan

s erl ookatAl a15’ sbeaut i f ul s peci al l ymar kedj et ,s eenunder goi ngs omepos t f l i ghtt es t i ng ( Kar lDr age)

ex er ci s e–t woort hr eeweeks–wi t ht hewhol e s quadr on,s i xai r cr af t ,ands t r ongmi s s i ons ,t hi si s t heonl yone. ” Wi t h ever s hr i nki ng def ence budget si ts eems cer t ai nt hatmul t i nat i onaloper at i onsar e her e t os t ay,s ot her e’ sa gr eatdealofval ue i n ex er ci s esl i ke NT Mi nT eni ent e Cor onalMuñoz ’ opi ni on: “T her e ar el ot sofbenef i t st ot aki ng par ti nt he T i gerMeet . F orus i t ’ s an oppor t uni t yt o

par t i ci pat ewi t hot herT i geruni t s–ver yqual i f i ed uni t s–amongNAT O count r i es ,andi tpr ovi desa ver ygood oppor t uni t yt ot r ai nt oget heri nt he waywewi l l par t i ci pat ei nof f ens i veordef ens i ve mi s s i onsi nt hef ut ur e.

“T hef r i ends hi pwi t hot hers quadr ons ,It hi nk,i sa ver y i mpor t ant t hi ng, pl anni ng, ex ecut i on, debr i ef i ng – we t ake ver y val uabl el es s ons l ear ned f r om each par t–butofcour s e,t her e ar e par al l elact i vi t i es t oo t hat i ncr eas e our f r i ends hi p. ”

Recover i es Bef or eweknow i t ,i t ’ st i met oheadoutt ocat cht hej et sr ecover i ng.Not onl ydoesAl a 15s har et heAi rBas ewi t ht het empor ar yr es i dent sont he s out hs i de,a l i t t l ef ur t hers out heas tf r om i t sown r amp i st he pas s enger t er mi nalofZ ar agoz a Ai r por t . Whi l es er vi cesar ef ew and f arbet ween ( bol s t er edbycar gof l i ght soper at i ngi ns uppor toft hear ea’ saut omot i ve i ndus t r y) ,i t spr es encedoesmeant hatweneedt oheadout s i det hewi r e –wi t hourhos t-t owi t nes st hel andi ngs .

I t ’ snotl ongbef or et hef i r s tt hr eeai r cr af tappearoutont heappr oach,l es s t hana mi nut e af t eranar r i vi ng Ai rEur opa Boei ng 737800hast ouched down. A r i ght hand br eak i nt ot he ci r cui ti sf ol l owed by s t r ai ghti n appr oachest oRunway30R. T eni ent e Ar r i ba r ecal l show,dur i ng each pi l ot ’ sf i r s tf l i ghti nt he Hor net , t hey’ r et ol dnott of l ar ef ort hel andi ng;t her eas onbei ngt hatt heywantt o s how t henew pi l ot sj us thow r uggedt heai r cr af ti s–i ti s ,af t eral l ,bui l tf or CAT OBAR( Cat apul tAs s i s t ed T akeof fButAr r es t ed Recover y)oper at i ons f r om an ai r cr af tcar r i er ! Whi l et hatmi ghtbe accept abl ef ort hatf i r s t l andi ng,t heyar eex pect edt or ef i net hei rt echni quet her eaf t er !

Bel ow -A f our s hi pofHor net sf l yt hr ought heZ ar agoz aover headbef or e per f or mi ngr i ght handbr eakst ol andonRunway30R.F r equent l yt hey’ r e j oi ned by r apt or s( t he avi an var i et y)i ncl udi ng vul t ur esand eur opean buz z ar ds ,whi chr epr es entas er i ouss af et yhaz ar d.

Kar lDr age

Apai r edappr oachont heaf t er noonaf t erourvi s i t( St eveComber )

Kar lDr age

I npr epar at i onf ort heWi ng’ sdepar t ur et oOr l andf orNAT OT i gerMeet2013,s pec

Wi t hal l11ai r cr af tbackont hegr ound,weheadbacki ns i de.Af t eraqui cks t opatt heHor net s i mul at or ,wher ea maj ori smi dwayt hr ougha s or t i e,wehead backoutont ot hel i net ot ake advant ageoft henowmor ef avour abl es unpos i t i on. T heheati sabs ol ut el ys ear i ng,butt her e ar enos uns hel t er st opr ot ectt heai r cr af t ,pi l ot sorgr oundcr ew.

Awaywi t ht he ol d! T wo member sofAl a 15’ s gr ound cr ew t ake t he r emoved dr op t anks awayf ors af ekeepi ng ( Kar lDr age)

EF 18M C. 1526/1513al s ocar r i ess peci alt i ger mar ki ngs ,al bei tnotqui t es uch col our f ulones ( St eveComber )

eci al l ypai nt ed‘ t i gerdr opt anks ’wer ef i t t edt ot heai r cr af tt hatwoul dbemaki ngt hej our neyt oNor way ( Kar lDr age)

T wo ofmanyHor net satr es ton t he Z ar agoz a r amp af t er t he l ar ge mor ni ng wave had r ecover ed ( Kar lDr age)

Al a15’ smos tex per i encedHor netpi l otwi t hover 2, 000 hour si skeen t o gi ve f eedback t o hi s ai r cr af t ’ s gr ound cr ew f ol l owi ng a pos t mai nt enancet es tf l i ght( Kar lDr age)

T anki ng T her ei sonef ur t herr es i dentoper at oratZ ar agoz a,andi tcr ops upi nconver s at i onwhenI as kT eni ent eAr r i bawhathi sf avour i t e par taboutf l yi ngt heHor neti s ,aswewanderbet weent hel i nes ofj et s .Hi sans wer ? “Ai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng. ” L ocat edont henor t hs i deofRunway30Lar et hehangar sand f aci l i t i esus ed t o hous et he peopl e and equi pmentofAl a 31, T heS pani s hAi rF or ce’ sL ockheedC130Her cul esoper at or .Not onl y doesAl a 31 have a t r ans por tmi s s i on,a numberofi t s Her cul es( knownl ocal l yas‘ Dumbos ’ )ar e ki t t ed outasaer i al t anker s .

“T hur s dayi st anki ngday, ”T eni ent eAr r i bat el l sus .“I t hi nki ti st he chal l enget hatmakesi ts oenj oyabl eands at i s f yi ng. ” I naddi t i ont ot heHer cul est anker s ,t heEj ér ci t odel Ai r eal s ohas t wo Boei ng 707sbas ed atT or r ej on t hatar e al s o capabl e of of f l oadi ngf uel .

“T he707scanf l yhi gherandf as t er ,s ot heyar eeas i erf orust o t akef uel f r om,butwedon’ tgett owor kwi t ht hem s oof t en. ”

Above -One ofA ( KC130HHer cul es Al a 15 t akes f r equent l y t ouchdownonRun ofHor net sr es ti nt h

Ri ght-F ourofmor t o be f ound o Z ar agoz adur i ngo

L ef t-A member i ns pect st he r ef u 1501 ahead of mi s s i on.

Al l i magest hi ss pr e

Al a 31’ s‘ Dumbos ’ s )-t heai r cr af tt hat f uel f r om mos t moment s f r om unway30Lasapai r t hebackgr ound.

or et han20Hor net s on t he r amp at ourvi s i t .

erofgr ound cr ew f uel l i ng pr obe on of t he mor ni ng’ s

r eadKar lDr age

Bl ues ki esandai r cr af t-per f ect i on!Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age

T op r i ght-Act i ng Z ar agoz a’ s s out h S RF 5A AR. 9056/ oper at ed byAl a Mor onAB.Unl i ke Ej er ci t o del Ai r e aboutdi s pl ayi nga nohi s t or yatapar t

Ri ght - Dem wi ngf ol di ng cap Hor net .

L ef t - Anot her s peci f i c t i es t o Mi r age F 1EDA, C whi chpr evi ous l ys at Al bacet e. I t Z ar agoz a’ snor t her

g asgat e guar d at t her n ent r ance i s /21264,pr evi ous l y 21’ s212 Es cf r om emos tai rar ms ,t he e has no qual ms ai r cr af twhi chhave r t i cul arl ocat i on.

mons t r at i ng t he apabi l i t y of t he

ai r cr af t wi t h no Z ar agoz a i st hi s C. 14C74 / 1450, s er ved wi t hAl a 14 I ti s pr es er ved at er nent r ance.

Andwi t ht hat ,wef i ndour s el vesbacki nAl a15’ smai nbui l di ng,enj oyi nga wel l des er veddr i nk.

Wi t hmor et han25year sofHor netoper at i onsbehi nd t hem al r eady,at pr es entt her ear enoi mmedi at epl anst or epl acet heai r cr af ti nS pani s hAi r F or ce s er vi ce. F ol l owi ng t he ML U upgr ade,t he pl at f or m r emai nsan ex t r emel ycapabl et ool t hati smor et hanabl et oper f or mt her ol ess etout f ori tnow andf ort hef or es eeabl ef ut ur e.

Kar l Dr ageandSt eveComberext ends i ncer et hankst oCor onel F r anci s co Gonz ál ez Es pr es at iAmi án,T eni ent e Cor onalMuñoz ,Maj orJ uanMi guel Gi lAr esandT eni ent eJ uanJ os édeAr r i baMuñoz .

T heL uf t waf f e’ sJ agdges chwader71“ Ri cht hof en”( J G 71“R” )orF Ger many,wasunt i l r ecent l yt hel as tGer manF i ght erWi ngt oope as s oci at i onwi t hat ypet hatevokesf armor eemot i ont hanmos t .

rF i ght erWi ng71“R” ,bas edatWi t t mundhaf enAi rBas ei nNor t her n er at et hel egendar yPhant om.Kevi nWi l l sl ooksbackatt heuni t ’ s t .

I mageSt eveComber

37+28i ss eenatRAFAl conbur yAi rS how i n1980car r yi ngt h

Outwi t ht he ol d,i n wi t ht henew. . .

I n 1973 t he Bundes wehr ’ s deci s i on t o r epl ace t he L ockheed F 104 S t ar f i ght er i n L uf t waf f e s er vi ce wi t h t he McDonnel l Dougl as F 4F was made and t he f i r s t cr ews s el ect ed t o oper at e t he new weapon s ys t em wer e det ached t ot heUni t edS t at esf ort r ai ni ng.

T he pr ogr amme of t r ai ni ng s i gnal l ed a maj or change i n oper at i ng pr ocedur es f or t he L uf t waf f east heS t ar f i ght erwasa s i ngl es eat ai r cr af t and t he Phant om,a t wos eat er .A whol e new cul t ur e had t o be devel oped al l owi ng pi l ot and weapons s ys t em oper at or st o wor k and t r ai nt oget her as a t eam. T he onl y s i mi l ar i t i es bet weent he S t ar f i ght erand t he Phant om wer e t he f act t hat each us ed a ver s i on oft he J 79 engi ne ( t he Phant om ut i l i s i ng t wo)and t he camouf l age t hey wor e( Nor m 72) .T he Phant om hadbeenpur chas edt of ul f i lt wo r ol es :notonl ywasi tt oguar ant ee s over ei gnt y of Wes t Ger man ai r s pace,i twasal s o as s i gned a s econdar yr ol eofgr oundat t ack.

T he f i r s t pai r of ai r cr af t t o t ouchdownatWi t t mundAi rBas e on 31 Augus t1973 wer e 37+03 and 37+04.Bot h wer e ador ned wi t h Amer i can s er i al sand wer e f l own i n by Amer i can cr ews .

S hor t l y af t er i t s ar r i val , 37+04 depar t ed f or t he L uf t waf f e’ s t echni cals choolatKauf beur en i n Bavar i a,s ot echni cal l y 37+03 canbedes cr i bed asJ G 71’ sf i r s t oper at i onal F 4F .

Whi l et hemar ki ngsmi ghts eem t os ugges tt hatt hi si saUS A ont obecome37+08andi ss eenher epr ovi di ngt r ai ni ngt o 35t hT F W atGeor geAF B,Cal i f or ni a-now Vi ct or vi l l e( L i nds

t hemar ki ngsofJ G 74‘ Mol der s ’( L i nds ayPeacock)

S AFPhant om,i ti si nf actaL uf t waf f eF 4F .721118went t oWGAFcr ewsi nS ept ember1973whenas s i gnedt ot he ds ayPeacock)

I nas i mi l armannert o whathas happened i n 2013 dur i ng t he t r ans f er of t as ki ng f r om F 4F t o Eur of i ght er ,on31J anuar y1974,J G 71wass t ooddownf r om NAT O al er t t o al l ow t he decommi s s i oni ng of t he F 104.T he r emai ni ng ai r f r ames wer e gr adual l yf l ownoutt o Er di ng Ai rBas ei nBavar i aal l owi ngJ G 71t o i nt r oduce t he new F 4F weapons s ys t em and i t sas s oci at ed gr ound and t echni cals uppor t .7 Mar ch 1974s aw f ur t herdel i ver i est oJ G 71 i nt hes hapeof37+17and37+24.

Near l yayearl at eron1Mar ch1975, J G 71 wasabl et or eact i vat ei t s QRAr ol e,ands hor t l yaf t ert haton1 Apr i l1975waspl aced backunder NAT O commandagai n,wher ei ts t i l l r emai nst oday.

Over s easT r ai ni ng I thasbeencommonpr act i ces i nce 1968 f ort he L uf t waf f et o depl oy par t sofeachai rwi ngt ot hei s l and of S ar di ni a, wher e t he “T act i cal T r ai ni ng Det achment ,L uf t waf f e”i s l ocat ed att he I t al i an Ai rF or ce’ s , Deci momannu Ai r Bas e. J G 71 commenced i t s f i r s t F 4F depl oymentt o‘ Deci ’on 18 May 1976.I t had a r egul arpr es ence t her e wi t ht he F 4Fup unt i lAugus t 2010.

F or34 year st he Phant om and i t s as s oci at ed cr ews and s uppor t s pent t i me at t he ai r bas e i n S ar di ni a. T o commemor at e t he l ongs t andi ngr el at i ons hi pbet ween t he L uf t waf f e Phant om f ami l yand t he bas e,37+79waspr es ent ed t o t he bas e and i s now pr oudl y di s pl ayedasagat eguar d.

New cl ot hes Bet ween 1980 and 1984 J G 71’ s Phant oms , as wi t ht he whol eL uf t waf f e F 4Ff l eet ,wer emodi f i ed undert he“PeaceRhi no” pr ogr amme. I n a deal s i gned as f ar back as 1976,Wes tGer manyand t he US A agr eed a cont r act whi ch s aw M e sse rschm itt Böl kowBl ohm ( MBB) i ns t al l ed ast he pr i mar y cont r act orf orupdat i ng t hef l eet .

Key el ement s of t he modi f i cat i onpr ogr amme wer et he i ns t al l at i on of t he CRU1 weapons comput er ,upgr adi ng of t he APQ120 r adar , i ns t al l at i on of cont r ol el ement sf ort he us e of AGM65B pr eci s i on ai r gr ound mi s s i l es and r epl acement of t he obs ol et e AI M9B S i dewi nder wi t h t he newerAI M9Lvar i ant .

Ar ound t he s ame t i me t he L uf t waf f e had f i ni s hed t r i al s ofa new col ours chemef ori t sF 4F Phant om f l eet .T he new camouf l age compr i s ed ofs i xdi f f er ents hadesof gr eywi t ha r educt i on i n t hes i z eoft he“I r oncr os s ” s ymbol , s er i al pr es ent at i on, wi ng badge and ot heri t ems .

T he new camouf l age was des i gnat ed “Nor m 81A”and“Nor m 81B”

Aspar toft hePhant om

m Phi nal ecel ebr at i ons ,J G 71pai nt edup38+33i nt he“Nor m 81B�r et r ocol ours cheme ( St eveComber )

38+24i ss eens por t i ngayel l ow t ai lasi tl i n r es ur f acedatWi t t mund.S ever alai r cr af tw

Dur i ngt hes ummerof1981,J G 71waschos ent o bet hef i r s tL uf t waf f euni tt odepl oyt oanew j oi nt L ow F l yi ngCour s el ocat edatt heCanadi anAi r Bas e, Goos e Bay. T oget her wi t h Canadi an, Br i t i s hand Dut chf or ces ,Ger manai r cr ew wer e f ort he f i r s tt i me t o be t r ai ned t of l yatt r eet op hei ght ,whi chatt het i me,wass eenast het act i c t hatwoul d gi ve cr ewsa hi ghers ur vi valr at e dur i ng f ut ur e conf l i ct s .T he f i r s tdepl oymentt o Goos e Bays t ar t ed whent he F 4F sofJ G71l ef t Wi t t mund on17J une 1981.Bydeci di ng t o us e Goos e Bay,t he L uf t waf f e hel ped t o appeas e t hel ocalpopul acebyef f ect i vel yex por t i ng“j et noi s e” over s eas . T r ai ni ng at Goos e Bay cont i nued f ornear l y25year s ,whenevent ual l y on30Mar ch302006t he L uf t waf f e’ spr es ence t her eended.

21Mar cht o5Apr i l1984s aw J G 71t as kedwi t h pr ovi di ng s ever alF 4F sf ora uni que oper at i on.

Ex er ci s e “Hi ghway Ai r f i el d” was a s er i es of oper at i ons t hat s aw t akeof f and l andi ngs car r i edoutf r om auni quel ypr epar edoper at i ng bas e,on par toft he newl ycons t r uct ed A29 mot or way. “Emer gency Ai r s t r i p Al hor n” was 2400met r esi nl engt hand wasconf i gur ed wi t h apr ons ,mobi l ef l i ghtcont r ols ys t ems ,f ueland ammuni t i on s t or es et c. Mor e t han 400 movement st ook pl ace and i ncl uded ot her Ger mant ypess uchast heS t ar f i ght er ,Al phaJ et , T or nado and T r ans al l .Ot herNAT Ot ypesf r om Bel gi um,Net her l ands ,Denmar k,Nor way,UK and t he US al s ot ook par ti nt he mot or way ex er ci s e.

1984 s aw anot hers i gni f i cantmomenti nt he hi s t or yofJ G 71,i t s25t hanni ver s ar y.T omar kt he occas i ont hebas ehel d anopendayt owhi ch t hous andsofs pect at or st ur nedupt os eeawi de var i et yofgr oundandf l yi ngdi s pl aysf r om ahos t ofdi f f er entcount r i es ;a l i neup ofai r cr af tt hat coul d onl ybe dr eamtofi n2013.J G 71’ ss i l ver anni ver s ar y al s o coi nci ded wi t h t he 10t h anni ver s ar yoft heF 4Fi nJ G 71s er vi ce.T omar k t he occas i on,38+47 waspai nt ed i na s uper b r ed,bl ack and whi t e commemor at i ve col our s cheme.

l i nesupatHops t enABon3061993,J G 71wasdet achedt oHops t enatt het i mewhi l s tt her unwaywas twer eador nedwi t hcol our edt ai l sdur i ngt he‘ 90s .T hi swasdonet omaket heai r cr af tmor evi s i bl edur i ng DACTmi s s i onsandl ow l evel t r ai ni ng ( Kevi nWi l l s )

38+27i ss eencar r yi ngar edt ai l al s oatHops t enABdur i ngt hes amedet achmentasabove ( Kevi nWi l l s )

Amaz i ng col our si nt hi sl at ei nt he days hotabove t he cl ouds ( St eveComber )

38+33

Mor enew s chemes . . . .

F ol l owi ng t he end oft he “Col d War ” ,t he L uf t waf f e deci ded t hatt her e wasno l ongeraneedf ort heF 4Ft ocont i nuet ohaveas econdar yr ol eofgr oundat t ack.

Asar es ul tanew col ours chemewasr equi r edf oropsconduct edpr edomi nat el yat medi um and hi ghl evel .I n1991t wo ofJ G 71’ sPhant omswer es el ect ed t o car r y ex per i ment alcamouf l age s chemes .38+59and 38+61wor e cont r as t i ng s chemes .

38+59 wasa bl ue/ gr ey col ourand 38+61 a mi xofbei ge/ gr ey.Event ual l yt he s cheme f l own by 38+59 waschos en.T he L uf t waf f e,however ,deci ded t o us e Amer i canF eder alS t andar d pai nti ns t ead oft he mor e nor malGer manRALpai nt s hades .Asar es ul tt hechos enai rs uper i or i t ys cheme“Nor m 90J ”compr i s es( f ort he model l er s )F S35237,F S36320andF S36375pai nts hades .

T hes p

33s i t si nf r ontofi t sHASatWi t t mund ( Kevi nWi l l s )

s pect acul ars i ghtoff our‘ T ooms ’hangi ngbel ow t heboom agai ns tas t unni ngbackdr opoff l uf f ycl ouds ( St eveComber )

S t andi ngal er ti nI cel and,t hi sJ G 71Phant om i sp

F ol l owi ng t he dr oppi ng of t he s econdar y gr oundat t ack r ol e andt heneedt oex t endt hel i f eof t he F 4F t o al l ow i tt o oper at e ef f ect i vel y up unt i l t he i nt r oduct i on i nt he f ut ur e oft he Eur of i ght er ,110oft he153F 4F si n s er vi ce wer e ear mar ked f or upgr adi ng once agai n. T he ambi t i ous “I mpr oved Combat Ef f i ci ency” ( I CE) pr ogr amme s t ar t ed i n 1991 and was once agai npl acedi nt hehandsofMBB, l at ert o become DAS A and t hen EADS . Mos t of t he wor k was car r i ed out at t he L uf t waf f e’ s as s embl yf aci l i t yatJ everAi rBas e neart o Wi t t mund. Modi f i cat i ons t o t he I CE var i ant of t he F 4F i ncl uded t he i ns t al l at i on of t he AN/ APG65 r adar s ys t em or i gi nal l y devel oped f ort he F 18 Hor net-a new mi s s i oncomput er , upgr adi ngoft heweaponss ys t em comput er ’ s capaci t y, t he mount i ngofl aunchs ys t emsf ort he AI M120 AMRAAM i n t he under s i der eces s es ,al ongwi t ht he pur chas e of t he mi s s i l es t hems el ves . At t he s ame t i me t her e was al s o an ai r f r ame l i f e ex t ens i on pr ogr amme t aki ng pl ace,t os ee t he Phant om l as t t hr ought oatl eas t2012.Al loft he I CE ai r cr af twer e pai nt ed i nt he new “Nor m 90J ”col ours cheme.

Unt i l1 J ul y 1995,J G 71’ spr i or i t y t as ki ng wast os ecur es over ei gn ai r s pace over t he F eder al Republ i c ofGer many.However , f r om 1 J ul y 1995 J G 71 became par tofNAT O’ s Rapi d Res pons e F or ce.T hi smeantt heWi nghadt o now ens ur ei t scapabi l i t yt o be abl et odepl oywi t hi ns i xdaysand be combatr eadyanywher et hat i twasr equi r ed.

Kar lDr age

spi ct ur edi nMar ch2012dur i ngt heWi ng’ sf i nal NAT O pol i ci ngdet achmenti nt her egi on ( St eveComber )

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J G 71’ snex tnot abl emi l es t onewaspas s edi nJ ul y1999.40year sofJ G 71 and25year sofF 4Fs er vi cewer ecommemor at edbypai nt i ng37+86i nan anni ver s ar ys cheme ( above and bel ow) .A l owkey open day at Wi t t mundwasal s ohel don25J ul y.

T he“nought i es ”r eal l ys houl d haves i gnal l ed a gr aduals l owi ng downof t heGer manPhant om f l eetandoper at i ons ,however ,not hi ngcoul dhave been f ur t herf r om t he t r ut h.Augus tand S ept ember2003 s aw J G 71 depl oy t wo ofi t sPhant omsal ong wi t ht wo ex ampl esf r om J G 74 at Neubur gandas ol i t ar yai r cr af tf r om t het es twi ng,WT D 61,atManchi ng, t oT yndal l AF B,F l or i da.T hepur pos eoft hedepl oymentwasf orl i vef i r i ngof t henew AI M120medi um r angeai r t oai rmi s s i l e.A t ot alofs i xAMRAAMs wer ef i r edal l wi t haver yhi ghdegr eeofs ucces s .

Above-38+62cl o " Qui d 22" i n poo Mar ch2013.Unbek t hi swoul d ul t i mat e t he l as ts or t i ei n Phant om woul dt 100t hARW KC135 had happened occas i onst hr ough 40oddyear s( Kev

Ri ght-Wi t hs t r i ki n chut e bi l l owi ng,3 end of t he A f ol l owi ng t he com mi s s i on ( Kevi nWi l l Har t mutF el dman

l os esi nonKC135R, oor vi s i bi l i t y on 19 eknownatt het i me, t el yend up bei ng i n whi ch a J G 71 t ake f uelf r om a 35-s omet hi ng t hat d on count l es s ghoutt he pr evi ous evi nWi l l s )

i ng yel l ow br aki ng 38+00t ur nsof ft he Al bacet e r unway mpl et i on ofa T L P i l l s )

Recover yt o RAFL os s i emout h af t era Nept une War r i or 071mi s s i on ( Kar lDr age)

On1J ul y2005i twasGer many’ st ur nt os endas s et sf ort heNAT O “Bal t i c S t at es ” ai rpol i ci ng oper at i on.Dur i ng t he t hr ee mont ht our ,J G 71 oper at ed f our F 4F sf r om L i t huani a’ sS i aul i ai Ai r Bas e. NAT O’ s r equi r ement swer ef ort went yt r ai ni ngs or t i est obef l ownovert het hr ee Bal t i cs t at esofEs t oni a,L at vi a and L i t huani a.T he F 4F smanaged t hi s wi t heas e.

On 20 December 2005, Phant om 37+32 pas s ed t he as t oni s hi ng mi l es t one ofover7, 000f l yi ng hour s .I nMay2007a s econd Phant om, 37+48,pas s edt he7, 000hour smar kt oo( r i ght ) ,butnotonl ydi di tdot hat buti tal s ot ookt hewhol eJ G 71f l eethour st ooverani ncr edi bl e250, 000.

Af ew mont hsl at er ,t he Phant om I Ipas s ed 900, 000 f l yi ng hour si n L uf t waf f es er vi ce.T he Wi ng’ sgr ound engi neer spr oudl yr ecor ded al l t hr eemi l es t onesont hef us el ageof37+48.

i nl ow wi nt erl i ghtaboveGer manyi nF ebur ar y2001, anF 4Fcl os esi noni t st ankerai r cr af t( Kevi nWi l l s )

Kevi nWi l l s

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I n2008,J G 71cel ebr at ed t he Phant om’ sGol denAnni ver s ar y,50year s s i ncet hemai denf l i ghtoft heF 4ati t spl aceofbi r t hS tL oui s ,Mi s s our i .T hat yearal s o coi nci ded wi t ht he 35t h anni ver s ar y oft he F 4i nL uf t waf f e s er vi ce.38+49wasgi venadar kbl uecoatofhonourwhi chi ncor por at ed t hewor d' Phant om' pai nt edi nwhi t eoni t sf us el age630t i mes( aboveand abover i ght ) .S eenf r om adi s t ance,al l t hewor dsdepi ctt hes i l houet t eof ar hi no,r ef l ect i ngt heAmer i canni cknamef ort heF 4Phant om.

T hef ol l owi ngyear ,J G 71pr epar edi t s el ff ori t snex thugeanni ver s ar y:50 year sofJ G 71atF l i eger hor s tWi t t mundhaven.S i gni f i cant l y37+03,t hef i r s t F 4Ft oar r i veatWi t t mundbacki n1973,waspai nt edi naf abul ouss i l ver , r ed and bl ackcol ours cheme( bel ow and bel ow r i ght )t hats ymbol i s ed J G 71ati t sbes t .T hewi ng s par ed noef f or t sand cr eat ed anawes ome des i gnt hatevendepi ct edapor t r ai toft heai racef r om whom t heWi ng owesi t sname:Manf r edF r ei her rVonRi cht hof en. . . . . .

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Recor dscont i nuedt ot umbl e,whenon26J an2010,37+48t ookof fand r et ur nedanhourl at eraf t ercl ocki ngupal egendar y7, 500hour s . . . . .

Anot herchal l engef ol l owedi nJ une2010.A NAT O as s i gnmentt opol i ce t he ai r s pace overI cel and wasagr eed.S i x Phant omsand 140 s t af f depl oyedt ot hef or mer US AFai rbas eatKef l avi k,f r om 1t o25J une.

T heuni twoul dr et ur ni nMar ch2012.

Above - T he pi l o t hr ough hi s pos t gr oundcr ew pr epa backi nt oi t sHAS , col dwi nd.

Ri ght-A t ypi cals c Mar ch2012.

L ef t-S i t t i ng i nt he s nowyWi t t mund.

T op l ef t-A head wi t ht hi s‘ T oom’ ,s e backaf t erl andi ng

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T act i calL eader s hi pPr ogr am I nApr i l/Mayof2010,J G 71wi t hf ourPhant omsandas s oci at edcr ews , j oi nedt hi r t yoddot hercr ewsf r om s i xot herNAT O nat i onsatAl bacet eAi r Bas ei nS pai nf orwhatwoul d be t hei rf i nalT L P( T act i calL eader s hi p Pr ogr am)ex er ci s e.

Ar r i vi ngatAl bacet edur i ngt heweekendi ng23Apr i l2010,J G 71’ sF 4F s j oi nedf or ceswi t ht enot herai r cr af tt ypesi nt hi si mpor t antNAT Ot r ai ni ng ex er ci s e.

13 ofa pl anned 15 mi s s i ons wer e compl et ed whi l s tatAl bacet e.

I r oni cal l y af t ermovi ng t he T L Pt oS pai nf r om i t spr evi oushome at F l or r ennesi nBel gi um,i ns ear chofbet t erweat her ,oneoft hes emi s s i ons wascancel l edduet os t r ongr unwaycr os swi ndsands now s t or ms ,whi l e t woot her ss uccumbedt ot heI cel andi cEyj al l aj oekul l vol canoas hcl oud, whi chgr oundedal l Eur opeanf l yi ngont hos edays .

Al ar gepar toft heT L Pcour s ei st aughti nt hecl as s r oom s obycompl et i ng anacademi csdayonaS unday,oneoft hes ef l yi ngmi s s i onswasabl et o ber es chedul edandf l ownaccor di ngl y.

Above -Pl umeso cas ts kywar dsast power sup af t erp chut e on t he t a Al bacet e’ sr unway

Ri ght - Chut e b empt i ed,t hi spai rt endofaT L Pmi s s i o

T op l ef t-Ar t wor ko engi ne i nt ake s pl i t r egul ar f eat ur e par t i ci pat i on i n oper at i ons ,asev t heT L Par t wor kon

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ofgol den dus tar e st hi sRi cht hof en j et poppi ng i t sbr aki ng t ax i way adj oi ni ng ay.

box es open and i rt ax i esbackatt he i on.

kont he Phant om’ s l i t t er boar dswasa e of J G 71’ s n ex er ci s es and vi denced her e by nt hi sai r cr af t .

r eadKevi nWi l l s

On 29 Apr i2011,37+48 cl ocked up anot her r ecor d when i tt ookJ G 71’ st ot alf l yi ng hour s pas tt he275, 000mar k.

Anot herdet achmentt oL i t huani af ol l owed i n ear l y2012,br i ngi ng J G 71’ sf l yi ng hour sover t hef or merBal t i cS t at est oover270.

Event ual l yt hef i r s ts i gnsoft hewi t hdr awal oft he F 4F satWi t t mund had s t ar t ed t os how.On F ebr uar y 2012,38+28 became t he ver yl as t Ger manF 4Ft obeover haul ed,wheni tar r i ved back atWi t t mund f r om near

by J ever .S i nce t hen t he gr adualr undown oft he J G 71f l eet hasbegun,wi t h mos toft he ai r cr af tbei ng f l ownoutt oJ evert obedecommi s s i oned.

Mai n-Af i neover heads t udyof38+28i nt hes t at i cdi s pl ayatt heRoyal I nt er nat i onal Ai rT at t oo2012.

T opr i ght-37+22i ss eenf r act i onsofas econdbef or et ouchi ngdownatWi t t mund.

38+28r ecover i ngt oWi t t mundf ort hel as tt i me.

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKevi nWi l l s

Phant om Phar ewel l

T o make t hateventj us tt hatl i t t l e bi tmor e s peci al J G 71 pai nt ed t hr ee ai r cr af t i n at i ve s chemes .38+10i nt he 1970s ’ I near l y2013t her ewer es t i l l12F 4F sact i vewi t h commemor m 72”camouf l age,38+33i nt he 1980/ 90s ’ t he Ri cht hof en.T hankf ul l yf r om an ent hus i as t s ’ “Nor m 81” and 37+01, t he f i r s t F 4F poi ntofvi ew J G 71’ scommandcont i nuedr i ght “Nor act ur ed f ort he L uf t waf f e,i na f ant as t i c t ot he end t o cel ebr at et he “Phant om Er a” . manuf ue and gol d l i ver y t o honour al lt hos e S ever al s peci al event swer epl annedal l l eadi ng bl s onnel t hathavewor kedonandf l owni nt he upt oas peci al Phant om Phl youteventovert he per Phant om I Ii nL uf t waf f es er vi ce. . . . l as tweekendi nJ une.

Mai n-38+33and 38+10f l ya pai r ed appr oachi ns t unni ng condi t i ons ,wi t hs now i l l umi nat i ng t he ai r cr af t ’ sunder s i des( St eveComber )

Kevi nWi l l s

Kevi nWi l l s

Har t mutF el dmann

Kevi nWi l l s

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadSt eveComber

Unf or t unat el yt he end oft he Phant om al s o meantt he end ofJ G 71 asa F i ght erWi ng.

Dur i ng t he wi t hdr awaloft he f i nalf ew F 4F s ,a gr aduals uppl yof20Eur of i ght er ’ scommenced t oWi t t mund,undert hebanneroft het henewl y f or med Nör veni chbas ed ' T akt i s ches L uf t waf f enges chwader31' Boel cke' ' .I t sr ol e,as wasJ G 71’ s ,i st o conductQRA mi s s i onsatt he bas ei nnor t her nGer manyf r om 1J ul y,2013.

Whi l et heEur of i ght erT yphooni sundoubt edl yaf armor ecapabl epl at f or mt hant hePhant om,i tj us td youcompet ewi t ht hi s ?( St eveComber )

Accor di ng t o t he L uf t waf f e' s command pl anni ng, J agdges chwader71' Ri cht hof en'wi l l di s band af t er 54 year s of exi s t ence on 30 Sept ember ,2013 and r ef or m ast he s ocal l ed ' T akt i s che L uf t waf f engr uppe ' Ri cht hof en' 'on 1 Oct ober2013.T hef or mert r adi t i onalai rwi ngwi l l come undert he command oft he ' L uf t waf f e' s T act i calAi rWi ng31' ' Boel cke' .

Upcl os eandper s onal as38+33t akesf uel f ort he f i nal t i mef r om a100t hARW KC135 ( Kevi nWi l l s )

tdoes n’ thaveanyt hi ngl i ket hechar m andchar act erofMcDonnel lDougl as ’i con.Butt hen,how can

The GLOBA L A VI A TI ON RESOURCE

PRI NT &GI FT STORE

Hi ghqu al i t yav i at i oni mager yav ai l abl ef or pu r c h as ei nav ar i et yof f or mat s f r omr egu l ar pr i n t st h r ou ght ocan v aspr i n t s , T s h i r t s , mou s emat s , paper wei gh t san dmu c h , mu c hmor e.

P l eas ev i s i t t h ewebs i t ebel owt os eet h ei mager yal r eadyav ai l abl e.I f y ou ar eu n abl et of i n dwh at y ouar el ook i n gf or , pl eas edr opu sal i n ean dwewi l l doou r bes t t os at i s f yy ou r r equ i r emen t .

T HEPOL I S HAVI AT I ON

T he Pol i s hAvi at i onMus eum i sl ocat ed att he f or merai r f i el d Kr akow.I thous ess ome200ai r f r ames ,i ncl udi ngex ampl esofP mai nl yS ovi ett ypesi nt heyear sf ol l owi ngWWI I .Mi keShr eeve

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F aci l i t i es S i nce my l as tvi s i ta decade ago,a new bui l di ng hasbeenadded att he ent r ancet ot hes i t e.Repr es ent i ngt he s hapeofat hr eebl adedpr opel l er ,t he addi t i onals pace hous ess ome oft he mor e s i gni f i cant ai r f r ames i n t he col l ect i on,butmor ei mpor t ant l y has madeabi gdi f f er encet ot heut i l i s at i on oft he mus eum f aci l i t i es . One wi ng i s gi ven overt o an educat i onalf aci l i t y, wi t h cut awayai r f r amesand di s pl ays , al l owi ng s chool par t i es t o be accommodat ed. T he new bui l di ng al s ohous esof f i ces ,conf er encer ooms and an ex panded gi f ts hop and a s mal lcaf e.T hi si sa maj ori ncr eas et o t hef aci l i t i esof f er ed att hemus eum i n i t spr evi ousgui s e.

Ai r f i el dHi s t or y T he ai r f i el di t s el fhasa s t or i ed hi s t or y, goi ng backt ot he l at e 19t h cent ur y, when t he s i t e wasus ed asa mi l i t ar y obs er vat i on bal l oon f l yi ng f i el d.T he Aus t r i an Ai r F or ce es t abl i s hed a mai nt enanceuni tt her ei n1912,andi t hadacont i nuoushi s t or y( underPol i s h, Ger man and S ovi etcont r ol ,as t he f or t unesoft hecount r ychanged)unt i l af t ert hewarwheni twasus edbyL OT ( t hePol i s hAi r l i ne) ,t hePol i s hAi rF or ce and t hel ocalAer oCl ub unt i l1963.At t hat t i me, encr oachi ng bui l di ng devel opmentmade i ti nappr opr i at e f ori t si nt ended us e,s ot he l as tuni t s moved out t o t he near by Kr akowBal i ceAi r por tandt hes i t ewas handed overt ot he Mus eum,whi ch openedi n1964.A2, 000' s ect i onoft he r unwayr emai ns ,whi chs i nce2004has beenus ed f oranai r s how hel d ont he l as tweekend ofJ une each year .I n addi t i on, a pol i ce hel i copt er uni t r emai nsbas edatt hes i t e.

T he onl yr emai ni ng ex ampl e oft he 1917bui l tGr i g bi pl anef l yi ngboat .

Ador nedwi t haf ant as t i ccamouf l ages cheme,t hi sA

T heMus eum’ sT u134i sanAmodelt hatpr evi ous l ys er ved wi t hPol and’ s nat i onal ai r l i ne,L OT .

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i sAnt onovAn26‘ Cur l ’wasoper at edbyt hePol i s hAi rF or ceunt i l r et i r ement .

T heCol l ect i on Manyoft he ai r f r amesar es t or ed out s i de,i ncl udi ng a ver yi mpr es s i ve s el ect i onofmos toft heMi G and S ukhois ubt ypesus ed byt hePol i s hAi r F or ce.

Bel ow -T hi sPZ L Mi el ecS BL i m2i sal i cens ebui l tver s i onoft heMi G “F agot ” .

Above -A s uper b about ever y Mi G ‘ F i t t er ’var i anteve Pol i s hAi rF or ce.

Ri ght-A Mi G23M oper at edbyt heP r et i r ementi n1999.

T opl ef t-T hi sS u22 act i vewi t ht hePol mi ddl eoft hel as t t ype cont i nues t s er vi cet oday.

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T he mus eum al s o has one of t he or i gi nal pr eWWI Ihangar s ,whi ch hous esmany oft he pr e1945ai r cr af t ,and s mal l erbui l di ngshous i ng t he WWIcol l ect i on, a compr ehens i ve aer o engi ne di s pl ay, and t he unr es t or ed ear l y ai r f r ameshel dbyt hecol l ect i on.

T hepos t warai r f r amesondi s pl ayi ncl udemany Wes t er nt ypes ,wi t h ex ampl esoft he J aguar , Har r i er ( bot t om l ef t ) ,F 84F ,F 105 ( bot t om mi ddl e) ,Mi r age V,Vi ggen,Dr aken ( bot t om r i ght ) , A37, F 5 and A7 Cor s ai r bei ng B7280i saS opwi t hCamelF 1,bui l tbyCl ayt on& r epr es ent edamongs tot her s .

S hut t l ewor t h and now pr es er ved i nt he Pol i s h Avi at i onMus eum col l ect i on.

T he Col l ect i on’ sVi ggen i san AJ S F 37 var i ant , oper at edl as tbyF21L ul eåi nnor t her nS weden.

T op -F or mer l y 726 S qn’ s gat eguar d at Aal bor g ABi nDenmar k,t hi sex Dani s hAi r F or ceS t ar f i ght ernow f i ndsi t s el fr es i denti n Pol and.

Mai n -Wi t h deci dedl yf aded pai nt ,t hi s A7P Cor s ai rpr evi ous l ys er ved wi t ht he Por t ugues e Ai rF or ce atMont e RealAB pr i ort ot het ype’ sr et i r ementi nJ une1999.

Deut s cheL uf t f ahr tSamml ung I nl at e 1943 orear l y1944,wi t ht he Al l i ed bombi ngofBer l i ni nf ul ls wi ng,t hedeci s i on was made t o evacuat e s ome of t he ai r f r ames f r om t he Deut s che L uf t f ahr t S amml ung( Ger manAi r cr af tCol l ect i on)t o avoi ddes t r uct i on.

Over20ai r cr af tf r om t he col l ect i on wer e di s mant l ed and puton a t r ai n headi ng eas t ,t o Cz ar ni kaui neas t er nGer manyf or s af ekeepi ng.

Af t ert he war ,Cz ar ni kau ( now known as Cz ar nkow)f el l wi t hi nt hebor der sofPol and.

T he ai r cr af t( by now mos t l y mi s s i ng t hei r wi ngs )wer es t or edi nvar i ousl ocat i ons ,and became par t of t he Pol i s h Avi at i on Mus eum col l ect i onwheni twases t abl i s hed i n1963.

A wi del yr epeat ed s t or yi st hatt her ewer e t wot r ai ns ,onecar r yi ng t hef us el agesand anot hert he wi ngs ,and t he one car r yi ng t he wi ngs di s appear ed enr out e t o Cz ar ni kau, however , a mor e l i kel y ex pl anat i on i st hatt he wi ngspr ovi ded a r eadys our ceoff i r ewoodi nt hehar s hPol i s h wi nt er s .

Mos toft he s ur vi vi ng f us el ages wer e of Ger man WWIt ypes ,butt her e wer e ot her ai r cr af twhi cht odayf or ms omeoft her eal gemsoft he Kr akow col l ect i on. S ome of t he f us el ageswer er es t or ed ( manydur i ng t he1980s ) ,ands omehaves i ncehadwi ngs cons t r uct ed t o br i ng t hem back t o compl et eex hi bi t sonceagai n.

T he f us el age oft he ( onl ys ur vi vi ng)DH9A now i n Hendon wasex changed wi t ht he RAFMus eum i nt he1970sf oraS pi t f i r eXVI, whi chi snow ondi s pl ayi nt hemai nbui l di ng t or epr es entt he many Pol i s hs er vi cemen whof l edt oBr i t ai naf t erPol andf el l ,i nor der t ocont i nuet hef i ghtagai ns tt heGer mans .

Above-J us tat i nyf r act i onoft hef us el age col l ect i on,r es cued f r om t he Deut s che L uf t f ahr tS amml ung.

Ri ght-Cel ebr at i ngt hePol i s hs er vi cemen whof oughtf ort heAl l i esdur i ngWWI I ,t hi s S pi t f i r eMkXVIi spr oudl ydi s pl ayed.

L ef t - T he Al bat r os H. 1 was a Ger mandes i gned,hi ghal t i t uder es ear ch pl ane,al t houghi tneverf l ew duet of ear s concer ni ngi t ss t r uct ur al i nt egr i t y.

Col l ect i onHi ghl i ght s T hr ee oft he Pol i s h Avi at i on Mus eum’ sgemscame f r om t hi sBer l i n col l ect i on. F i r s t l y,and mos ts i gni f i cant l y,i st he PZ LP. 11c f i ght er , whi chhasbeendes cr i bedast hemos ts i gni f i cantpr es er vedai r cr af t i n Pol and. T he onl ys ur vi voroft he br i efbutbl oodyconf l i ctwi t h Ger manyi nS ept ember1939,and t he Pol i s h Ai rF or ce' sf r ont l i ne f i ght eratt het i me,waspower edbyaBr i s t olMer cur yengi ne.I thas beenf ul l yr es t or ed,andi sgr oundr unonoccas i on.

S econdl y,t heCur t i s sHawkbi pl ane,whi chwasoneofapai rbr ought backf r om t heUSt oGer manybyEr ns tUdeti n1933,andf l ownbyhi m att he1936Ber l i nOl ympi cs .T heHawkf us el agewasr es t or edawhi l e back,and i sal s o gr oundr unonoccas i on. i ti spr es ent l yhavi ng a new s etofwi ngsbui l t ,andt hel owerpai rwer er ecent l yf i t t ed.

T hi r dl y,t hemus eum hol dst heunr es t or edf us el age( f i r ewal l af t )and t ai ls ur f acesoft he Me209 i n whi ch F r i t zWendels ett he wor l d ai r s peedr ecor d( ats ome469mph)on26Apr i l 1939.

I n addi t i on t ot he mai nl y Ger man WWIf us el agesf r om t he Ber l i n col l ect i on,t he mus eum al s o hasa Cl ayt on and S hut t l ewor t hbui l t Camel ( t hathasbeenf ul l yr es t or edwi t hwi ngsadded)andt heonl y s ur vi vi ngGr i gor ovi chM15Rus s i anbi pl anef l yi ngboatf r om 1917.

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Ri ght-Des pi t et he wi ng atpr es ent ,r t he Cur t i sHawkb pr es ence of t he pai nt edf or eoft he

L ef t-“T hemos ts i g ai r cr af ti n Pol and” t he onl ys ur vi vor conf l i ctwi t hGer m

l i kel yl ooki ng r el i ci s g( as of 26 Apr i l ft heMe209i nwhi ch i eved an ai r s peed ncr edi bl ef eatf ori t s

eabs enceofat op ,r es tas s ur ed,t hi si s bi pl ane! Not et he he Ol ympi c Ri ngs hecockpi t .

i gni f i cantpr es er ved d” ,t he PZ LP. 11c roft he count r y’ s many.

New Exhi bi t s Recentaddi t i onst ot hemus eum i ncl udes ever alai r f r amesbi z ar r el ydi s pos edofbyt heI WM at Dux f or d,i ncl udi ngacombat vet er anF 105T hunder chi ef ,Ami otAAC. 1( J unker s52-above)and DH S ea Venom ( bot t om r i ght ) ,al lnow r eas s embl ed and on di s pl ay. Al s o di s pl ayed ar e ai r f r amesf r om t hef or merPol i s hAi rF or ceVI Puni t ,di s bandedaf t ert het r agi ccr as hi nS mol ens k, Rus s i ai n2010whi chki l l edt hePol i s hPr es i dentamongs ti t s96cas ual t i es .

T hi sMi l Mi 8S‘ Hi p’waspr evi ous l yoper at edby36S PL TasaVI Pt r ans por tai r cr af t .

T hi sf or merPol i s hAi rF or ceVI PYak40waspl acedondi s pl ayatt hemus eum i nDecember2006.

Above - A t wos eat t r ai ni ng ver s i on of t he I l yus hi nI l 28“Beagl e”knownast he I l 28U. T he t ypewasr et i r ed f r om Pol i s hAi rF or ces er vi cei n 1977.

Above -S por t i ng a br i ghtcol ours cheme and car r yi ng t wo 600 l i t r e GRP hopper s ,t hi s PZ L S wi dni kbui l tMi lMi 2“Hopl i t e”i spar toft he Mus eum’ s“Agr i cul t ur al Avi at i on”ex hi bi t i on.

Mai n-Apai roff or mer Pol i s hAi rF or ceS u7“F i t t er s ”atr es tt oget her .

Above -S omewhatmor e mundane buts t i l l l ovel y, nonet hel es s , PZ L al s o l i cens ebui l ta numberofAnt onovAn2“Col t ”ai r cr af t ,l i ket hi s one.

Above -Among t he mor es ur pr i s i ng ai r cr af ton di s pl ay ar et hi sCes s na A37B Dr agonf l y and, i mmedi at el ybehi ndi t ,t heNor t hr opF 5ET i gerI I , bot hofwhi char eex Vi et nam Ai rF or ce!

Above-Bor neoutofa pr ogr ammet or epl ace t heT S 11I s kr a,PZ LMi el ecdevel opedt hePZ LI 22 I r yda.A t ot alof17ex ampl eswer ebui l tpr i ort o t hecancel l at i onoft hepr oj ect ,duemai nl yt oa l ackoff undi ng.

Above-T hePZ L 106Kr ukwasdes i gnedbyWS K PZ LWar s z awaOkęci easa moder nagr i cul t ur al ai r cr af tt or epl acet hePZ L 101Gawr onandt he Ant onovAn2.Mor et han275havebeenbui l t t odat e.

Above-Oneofonl yt hr eeex ampl esoft hePZ L MD12t obebui l t ,t het ypewasconcei vedasa f our engi ned,s hor t r ange pas s engerand ut i l i t y ai r cr af tdur i ngt he1960s .

Above-T hi sMi lMi 4ME“Hound”wasoper at ed by t he Pol i s h Navy. T he ‘ M’ i nt he s uf f i x i ndi cat edi twasanar medcl os es uppor tvar i ant whi l et he‘ E’meanti twasanex por tver s i on.

Above-A r ow off ourdomes t i cal l ypr oduced Mi lMi 2Hopl i t esi nvar i ous camouf l ages chemes .

Wel lwor t ha vi s i t ,and aneas yt axir i de f r om cent r alKr akow,t he Pol i s h Avi at i on Mus eum hasa wor l dcl as scol l ect i on ofexhi bi t s .T he s t af far e ext r emel yf r i endl y,t he ent r ance f ee of15 Z l ot y( ar ound ÂŁ3)i s ver y r eas onabl e,andi ti sver yevocat i vet owal kt hr ought her owsofMi Gsatt hi s f or merWar s aw Pactai r f i el d,s omet hi ngt hati nmyyout hIneverbel i evedI woul dbedoi ng.

Above - Anot he ex t ens i ve l i nesofe Mi G andS ukhoi ai r t i mebyaMi G19P

Ri ght-T hi ss t r ange anot her pr oduct des i gn bur eau.

Bel phegor was r es pons et oaS ovi e moder n and ef f i r epl ace t he An2 dut i es . 175 wer e des i gn was ackn uneconomi cal .

L ef t-T he L i s un l i cens ebui l tver s i o DC3,pr oducedi n

her l ook at t he fex Pol i s hAi rF or ce ai r cr af t ,headedt hi s PM “F ar mer � .

ge l ooki ng beas ti s t of t he Mi el ec T he PZ L M15 s devel oped i n vi etneedf oramor e f f i ci ent ai r cr af tt o 2 on agr i cul t ur al r e bui l tbef or et he nowl edged t o be

unov L i 2 was a i on oft he Dougl as i nRus s i a.

B OE I NG

C17 GL OBE MAS T E RI I I

I mageKevi nWi l l s

I

t ' s a hot s ummer ’ s day at T r avi s AF B, Cal i f or ni a, s ot heai rcondi t i onedcomf or tof t he 21s t Ai r l i f tS quadr on' s headquar t er s bui l di ngpr ovi desawel comechancet ocool of f .Havi ng t al ked at l engt h wi t hL t Col J os eph Di ngman,t he 21s tAScommander , about t he capabi l i t i es of t he C17 Gl obemas t erI I I ,t he f i nalques t i on ofour i nt er vi ew caus es hi m t o paus ef ora f ew s econdsandt hi nkcar ef ul l y.

T hatques t i on bei ng:“I st her e anyt hi ng you woul dl i ke t o change aboutt he C17?”T he ans wer s peaks vol umes about t hi s r emar kabl eai r l i f t erand t hees t eem i nwhi ch i ti shel dbyt hos ewhooper at ei t . " Idon’ t know t hat Iwoul d change t he ai r cr af t .T he ai r cr af ti sawes ome,t her e’ snot mucht hatIt hi nkIwoul dchangeabouti tat al l . " I t ' snotunus ual f orapi l ott owaxl yr i cal about t he per f or mance and capabi l i t i es of t he ai r cr af twhi chheors hef l i es .T hats ai d,mos t pi l ot sar eal s okeenl yawar eoft hei rai r cr af t ' s s hor t comi ngsand nor mal l yf ai r l y happy t o di s cus st hem.I nt het wodayst hatGAM s pent wi t ht he 21s tAS ,however ,vi r t ual l y ever y wor dt hatwass ai d aboutt he ai r cr af twas over whel mi ngl y pos i t i ve.Cl ear l yt hi si s an ex cept i onal machi ne.

YC14&YC15 Boei ng' s C17 Gl obemas t er I I I can be cons i der ed a r eals ucces ss t or y.T he des i gn has i t s or i gi ns i nt he McDonnel lDougl as YC15,whi chwasconcei ved i nr es pons et o t he US AF ' sAMS T( Advanced Medi um S T OL T r ans por t ) compet i t i on f or an ai r cr af tt o r epl acet heC130.T heYC15f i r s tf l ew i n1975, andcompet edwi t ht heBoei ngYC14;i nt he end nei t herai r cr af twass el ect ed t o ent er pr oduct i on, and t he AMS T pr ogr amme endedi n1979.

Bel ow - Boei ng’ s ent r y i nt o t he AMS T compet i t i on was t he YC14. 7201874 i s pi ct ur ed at RAF Mi l denhal li n May 1977 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

S T i s 7

AC17f r om t he60t hAMW t ur nsf i nal satNel l i sAF Bi nbeaut i f ul l ow s unl i ght( Chr i sWood)

Bel ow - T he McDonnel l Dougl as r es pons e, meanwhi l e,came i nt he s hape oft he YC15.

7201876 i s s een pr epar i ng t o l and at F ar nbor oughi nS ept1976 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Bel ow - Wear i ng a ver y di f f er ent but par t i cul ar l y s har p col our s cheme, t hi s ex ampl e i s 7201875, depi ct ed at RAF Mi l denhal l i nMay1977 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Anai r cr af tf r om t he437t hAMW get ss mar t hef i r s tt or ecei vet heC17i n1995 ( PaulF

Ent ert heGl obemas t erI I I S hor t l yaf t er war ds ,t heAi rF or ces t ar t ed t heCX pr ogr amme.T hi swasi nt ended t o pr oduce a l ar gerAMS Tt ype ai r cr af twhi chcoul d al s of ul f i l t he s t r at egi c ai r l i f tmi s s i on.McDonnel lDougl as s ubmi t t ed a des i gn bas ed on an enl ar ged YC15,whi ch was s el ect ed over compet i ng des i gnsf r om Boei ng and L ockheed.T he new ai r cr af t was des i gnat ed t he C17, and devel opmentcont i nued t hr oughoutt he 1980s , wi t ht he ai r cr af t maki ng i t s mai den f l i ght i n S ept ember1991.T heai r cr af ti sr ef er r edt oast he Gl obemas t erI I Ii nr ecogni t i on ofi t sher i t age as t he t hi r d Dougl asdes i gn t o beart hatname ( af t er t he C74 Gl obemas t er and C124 Gl obemas t erI I ) .

By t hi st i me,t he US AF r equi r ementhad been r educed f r om 210ai r cr af tt o onl y120,and t he pr oj ecthad s ome t echni caldi f f i cul t i es .T hes e wer e event ual l y deal t wi t h dur i ng t he devel opment phas e and t he new ai r cr af t ent er ed s er vi ce at Char l es t on AF B, S out h Car ol i na,wi t ht he f i r s ts quadr on ( t he 17t h AS ) bei ngdecl ar edoper at i onal i nJ anuar y1995.

I twas n' tl ong bef or et he capabi l i t i es oft he ai r cr af twer e putt ot he t es ti n an oper at i onal envi r onment , wi t h t he NAT O i nt er vent i on i n Kos ovo.Dur i ngt hecampai gn( Oper at i onAL L I ED F ORCE)t heC17per f or medadmi r abl y,asi thas donei never ydepl oyments i nce.

T he US AF r equi r ement f or 120 was s t eadi l y i ncr eas ed,wi t ht he l ar ges tor derbei ng f oran addi t i onal60 uni t si n 2002.By t hatt i me,t he companymar ket i ngt heC17wasBoei ng,whi ch mer gedwi t hr i valMcDonnel lDougl asi n1997.I n t ot al ,t he US AF has r ecei ved 210 pr oduct i on ex ampl es ,and t her e have been a f ur t her20 ai r cr af tdel i ver ed t o ot heroper at or s ,i ncl udi ng t he RoyalAi rF or ce,RoyalAus t r al i an Ai rF or ce, RoyalCanadi anAi rF or ce,Qat arEmi r iAi rF or ce, UAEAi rF or ce,and mos tr ecent l y,t heI ndi anAi r F or ce.A numberofai r cr af tar e al s o oper at ed j oi nt l yundert heNAT OS t r at egi cAi r l i f tCapabi l i t y Pr ogr am.T he pr oduct i on l i ne i ss t i l lopen,and f ur t herUS AFor der shavenotbeenr ul edout .

One ofs i xC17Asoper at ed byt he Royal S quadr on,bas edatRAAFBas eAmber l ey (

ar t l yai r bor nef r om Nel l i sAF Bdur i ngaRedF l agex er ci s e.Bas edatChar l es t onAF B,t he437t hAMW was lF i l mer )

alAus t r al i an Ai rF or ce’ s36 ( Mi chaelCar t er )

A7MABoft he Qat arEmi r iAi rF or ce eas i l ycl ai mst he cr ownf ort he mos tunus ual col ours chemecar r i edbyaC17 ( Mi chaelCar t er )

Ref uel l i ngcompl et e,aC17f r om t he21ndAS / 60t hAMW dr opsawayf r om aKC1 car r i est heol ders t yl eT r avi sAF Bt ai l band ( Kevi nWi l l s )

T he21s tAi r l i f tSquadr on T he60t hAMW atT r avi sAF Bwasoneoft hel at er US AFuni t st or ecei vet heC17.I n2006,t he21s t AS' Beel i ner s 'conver t edf r om t heC5Gal ax yt o t heC17;i nt hepr oces sT r avi sAF Bbecamet he onl ybas et o be equi pped wi t ht he C17,C5 and KC10, a combi nat i on whi ch gi ves ex cept i onal f l ex i bi l i t yandcapabi l i t y.

T he 21s tAS began l i f e ast he 21s tT r ans por t S quadr oni nMar ch1942,i nBr i s bane,Aus t r al i a.

T he s quadr on s er ved wi t h di s t i nct i on i nt he Paci f i cT heat erdur i ng WWI I .When t he war ended,t he s quadr on s pentnear l y 50 year s s t at i oned atvar i ousl ocat i onsi n As i a,bef or e r et ur ni ngt ot heUSi n1993,wheni tconver t edon t ot heC5Gal ax yandbecamepar toft he60t h AMW andT eam T r avi s .

10f r om t hes amewi ng.T heai r cr af t

Nowadays ,t hes quadr oni sasbus yasever ,wi t h cr ew and ai r cr af t s uppor t i ng ongoi ng oper at i onsi n Af ghani s t an and al s o US f or ces depl oyed i nt he Paci f i c ar ea.L tColJ os eph Di ngmanas s umed command oft he 21s tASi n May2011.Hehadpr evi ous l yf l ownt heKC10at T r avi spr i ort o conver t i ng on t ot he C17 and j oi ni ng t he 14t h AS atChar l es t on AF B.He i s ent hus i as t i c aboutt he C17 and t he uni que oper at i onshi scr ewsar eabl et oper f or m.

" T her e’ sal ar ges wat het hatt heC17cover s .T he C17hasa uni que capabi l i t ybecaus ei t ’ snot onl ya s t r at egi c ai r l i f t er ,i t ’ s al s oa t act i cal ai r l i f t er .I t ’ ski ndofamor phoft heC5andC130 al l i none,s ot hat ’ st hegr eatcapabi l i t ywehave i nt heC17.Wecanf l yt hes amel egsasaC5, and al t hough we can’ tt ake qui t e asmuch car go,wecanal s ogeti nt os omeoft hemor e aus t er el ocat i onsl i keaC130can.

" We canf l yacr os sanyocean,t aki ng l ot sof car gof r om poi ntAt opoi ntB,butwecanal s o t ake t hat capabi l i t y and i ns t ead of j us t l andi ng ata bi g ai r por t ,l i ke F r ankf ur t ,f or ex ampl e,we cango i nt o anaus t er ef i el di n Af ghani s t an,ata hi gh pr es s ur e al t i t ude,do an as s aul tl andi ng on a di r ts t r i p,r api dl y of f l oadt hos et r oopsandcar goi nl es st han30 mi nut esandt akeof fi nl es st han3500f tofdi r t .

S oi t ’ sar eal l yuni quecapabi l i t yt hatt heC17 has . " I nor dert oper f or mt hatmi s s i onandf ul l yt ake advant age of what t he ai r cr af t can do, commander ss uchasL tColDi ngmanr equi r e cr ew t r ai ned t ot he hi ghes ts t andar ds .New C17 avi at or sar et r ai ned atAl t usAF B,OK bef or e bei ng as s i gned t o oper at i onaluni t s s uchast he21s tAS . " T her e ar e cer t ai n bas est hr oughoutt he US wher et heys peci al i s eonai r dr opcapabi l i t yor s peci aloper at i onset c.T her e ar e di f f er ent bas est hathavedi f f er ents peci f i ccapabi l i t i es , butbyand l ar ge,al lC17pi l ot sand al lC17 s quadr onshave t he s ame bas i c capabi l i t i es and we ar et r ai ned t o a cer t ai ns t andar d.

Ever yai r cr af tcommandert hatcomest ome i st r ai ned i n aer i alr ef uel l i ng,l owl evelf l yi ng and as s aul tl andi ngss ot hatt heycan l and wi t hi n3500f t . " Ir ecei vet hem ‘ capabl e’ ,butt heymaynot be ‘ pr of i ci ent ’pers e,s o my j ob her ei st o cont i nue t o t r ai n t hem and get t hem pr of i ci ent ,s o Ican pi ckany ofmy ai r cr af t commander sandt heyar ecapabl eofdoi ng any mi s s i on t hat we’ r e qual i f i ed f or , wor l dwi de.I nours quadr onwedon’ tdot he ai r dr opmi s s i on,butwecandoanyt hi ngf r om pr es i dent i alai r l i f ts uppor tt ot act i caldel i ver y ofcar goandt r oops . " Mai n &L ef t-S howi ngof ft het ops ur f aces ,t hi s 97t hAMW machi neget sputt hr oughi t spaces atRI AT2010( RobEdgcumbe) F arl ef t-AC17f r om t he21s tASs eenonf i nal s t oT r avi sAF B,wi t haC5Gal ax yf r om t he22nd ASonbas el egbehi nd ( PaulDunn)

Bal anci ng t he demands of oper at i onal depl oyment s and t r ai ni ng r equi r ement scan be chal l engi ng,wi t hs quadr on per s onnels pendi ng cons i der abl eamount soft i meawayf r om T r avi sAF B. " I ngener alt er ms ,5060% ofmyguysar e ont he r oad atanyone t i me, whet hert hey’ r edepl oyed oronmi s s i ons ,s oi tl eavesmet her emai nder who ar e athome t of l yl ocalt r ai ni ng and s t aypr of i ci ent ,t ake car e of admi ni s t r at i ves t uf fher eanddoaddi t i onal dut i esar oundt hebas e.

Above- Amaz i ng t hi sC17,one of vi s ual ci r cui tatNel s i nki ngi nt hes ky ( K

Ri ght-A 437t h AW vacat e f r om R Runway29 ( Kar lD

L ef t-Dawnbr eaks T r avi sAF B,wi t ht he t he C17 s i l houet mor ni ngs ky ( Paul

T opl ef t-S hor tf i nal T r avi s AF B. T he pr ovi desus ef ulgu appr oach ( PaulD

gs kycondi t i onsas fa pai r ,j oi nst he el l i sAF Bwi t ht hes un ( Kar lDr age)

AW j ett ur nsl ef tt o RAF Mi l denhal l ’ s Dr age)

ksovert her ampat hei mpos i ngbul kof et t ed agai ns tt he ulDunn)

al f orr unway21Rat e ai r cr af t ' s HUD ui dancedur i ngt he Dunn)

" Byandl ar ge,whenmyguysar eathomeandt hey f l yt r ai ni ng mi s s i ons ,we have s peci f i c pr of i l es .A s t andar dpr of i l ef oruswoul dbet akeof f ,godoai r r ef uel l i ng,dr op down i nt oal owl evelr out e,and t hengot oanas s aul tl andi ngs t r i p,s i mul at ecar go oper at i ons , and t hen do s ome pat t er n wor k, pr act i ce ouras s aul tl andi ngs ,maybe a coupl e of i ns t r ument appr oaches t o s t ay pr of i ci ent and cur r entandt hencal l i taday. " Ni ghtt i me s or t i esar e ver y di f f er entf orus .T he pr of i l esar et he s ame,butwe f l ywi t hNVGs( Ni ght Vi s i onGoggl es ) .Wedoas s aul tl andi ngs ,wedoour gr oundoper at i onsandwedoourl owl evel f l yi ngal l wi t hNVGsandweal s odoni ghtt i meai rr ef uel l i ng. " As you can i magi ne,i t ' s ver y demandi ng and chal l engi ng,t omai nt ai nahi ghs t andar di nal l t hos e t hi ngs . "

BEEL I NER10 GAM hadt heoppor t uni t yt ogetaf i r s t handl ookat qui t ehow chal l engi ngt hes emi s s i onsar ewhenwe j oi nedt hecr ew ofBEEL I NER10f orj us ts uchas or t i e overnor t her nCal i f or ni aandNevada.

Ourmi s s i on t ooki n mos toft he event sdes cr i bed abovebyL tCol Di ngman,commenci ngwi t haer i al r ef uel l i ng t r ai ni ng overt he Paci f i c Ocean.T he t ankerwasa KC10Ex t ender ,al s of r om T r avi sAF B; one of t he benef i t s of havi ng t anker uni t s col ocat ed at t he s ame ai r f i el d i si ncr eas ed oppor t uni t i esf ormut ual t r ai ni ngs or t i es . " T heai rr ef uel l i ngcapabi l i t i esgetus edi nt r ai ni ngal l t he t i me,butwe don’ tus et hem on mi s s i onsas much aswe us ed t o,f orex ampl e,s t r ai ghtaf t er 911. " Oneoft het hi ngst hat911t aughtuswast hatwe neededmor ecapabi l i t y.Att het i me,wecoul donl y hol dabout181, 000l bsofgas ,whi chwas n’ tenough t ogetacr os st heAt l ant i cwi t haf ul ll oadofcar go, s ot hat ’ swhenwe gotourex t ended r ange t anks .

Wedon’ taer i al r ef uel asmuchaswedi dt enyear s ago,butwes t i l l us ei tasani mpor t antcapabi l i t y. "

BEEL I NER10cl os esont h

t het anker .Not e,t heHUDsar es t oweddur i ngt her ef uel l i ngpr ocedur e( Al l i magest hi ss pr eadPaulDunn)

Above US AF ' sC agr ea f i t t i ng cr ewsa ont ank mi s s i on r ef uel l i n i spr act

Ri ghtcar r i ed s i mul at ( RobEd

e&L ef t-Wi t hmos toft he ' sC17snow abl et ocar r y at erf uel l oadduet ot he of l ong r ange t anks , sar enol ongers or el i ant nker st oaccompl i s ht hei r ns .

However , ai r l l i ngi ss t i l l akeys ki l l whi ch ct i s edr egul ar l y.

-Much C17 t r ai ni ng i s d out us i ng t he f l i ght at or at T r avi s AF B Edgcumbe)

Mos toft heUS AFC17f l eeti snow equi ppedwi t h t he ex t ended r ange t anks , whi ch t akes t he ai r cr af t ' sf uel capaci t yt o245, 000l bs .Al l oft he21s t AS j et sar es o equi pped,gi vi ng t hem a much gr eat err anget hant heear l i erex ampl es .

Af t err ef uel l i ng,t henex ti t em ont heagendawasar a al owl evelr out et hr ough t he S i er r a Nevada moun abl et ous er ever s et hr us twhi l s tai r bor ne,butevenw i ss t i l l capabl eofi mpr es s i ver at esofdes cent .L ow f l y s ki l l f orC17pi l ot s ,asL tCol Di ngmanr el at es .

" Dependi ngont het hr eatenvi r onmentwegoi nt o,w 35, 000f t ,buti ft her e’ ss ome s or toft hr eati nt he des t i nat i on,we’ l l dr opdownpr i ort oi tandi ngr es sun 300f tof ft hegr ound,doat act i cal as s aul tar r i val ,of f t henegr es st hes ameway. "

T op -BEEL I NER10manoeuvr est hr ougha val l eyi nt mount ai nsdur i ng a t r ai ni ng mi s s i on.T act i call ow f of t en,i nor dert oal l ow C17cr ewst oevadegr ound

L ef t-T hever t i cal s peedi ndi cat or( VS I )r eads4420f p per f or msa t act i caldes centt ol ow l evel .T he ai r c much hi gherr at esofdes centby t he us e ofr ev ai r bor ne.Bot hi magesPaulDunn

r api ddes centt of l y unt ai ns .T he C17i s wi t houtdoi ngt hi si t f l yi ngi sanot herkey

wemi ghtf l yoverat e ar ea ar ound our nder neat hr adarat f f l oadourguysand

t heS i er r a Nevada f l yi ng i spr act i ced dbas edt hr eat s .

f pm asBEEL I NER10 r cr af ti scapabl e of ever s et hr us twhi l s t

Above -Eval uat orpi l otMajMat t hew Abel e demons t r at est he por t abl e movi ng map uni t car r i ed as an ai d t o s i t uat i onal awar enes s ( RobEdgcumbe) Bel ow -L ow f l yi ng i nt he C17i sa s ki l lr equi r i ng cons i der abl et eamwor k.

Her e,t heai r cr af tcommanderf l i est heai r cr af twhi l ehi scopi l otas s i s t swi t h map r eadi ng and s ys t em s el ect i ons ,al l owi ng t he ai r cr af tcommandert o keep hi s eyes out s i de t he cockpi t and mai nt ai n a good l ookout ( RobEdgcumbe)

Cr ews pr act i s e t hi ss or t of f l yi ng whenever pos s i bl e,butneed t ot ake i nt o accountcer t ai n s af et y f act or s , es peci al l y dur i ng peacet i me t r ai ni ng.Bi r dsar e a maj orhaz ar d atl owl evel ; bef or e each l owl evelmi s s i on,a bi r df or ecas ti s obt ai ned,whi ch es t i mat es how much act i vi t y t her e wi l lbe on t he i nt ended r out e. I fi ti s ant i ci pat ed t hatbi r d act i vi t ywi l lbe hi gh,cr ews canr educet her i s kofa damagi ng bi r ds t r i keby f l yi ngatahi ghermi ni mum hei ghtandar educed max i mum s peed.

T act i calappr oachesandas s aul tl andi ngsar ean i mpor t antpar toft r ai ni ng f orC17 cr ews .T he abi l i t yt ol andonunpr epar edl andi ngs t r i psi swhat s et s t he ai r cr af t apar t f r om Ai r Mobi l i t y Command' sot hers t r at egi cai r l i f t er s .I ti s ,however , an abi l i t y whi ch i scur r ent l y us ed r ar el y dur i ng oper at i ons . " T o be hones t , we’ ve been i n I r aq and Af ghani s t an f orl ong enough t hatwe have bui l t up s ome oft hos e pl acess o we’ r e notr egul ar l y l andi ngondi r tand beat i ngup t heai r cr af t .Af t er al l ,i t ’ sa $202m ai r cr af t ,whi ch we ar et r yi ng t o l ookaf t er . . . " We s t i l lneed t o pr act i s ei tt hough,we have a s mal ll andi ngz onecal l ed S choonver( par toft he Ar my' svas tF or tHunt er L i gget tcompl ex ) ,whi chi s about30mi nut ess out hofher eont hecoas t .We go t her e atl eas tonce a mont ht o pr act i s e wi t h t he Ar my and wi t h ourcont i ngency r es pons e wi ng,s oi t ’ sgoodt r ai ni ng. " I t ’ ss omet hi ng el s et o be i n an ai r cr af tl i ke t he C17and s ee gr as snex tt o you,and once you t ake of f ,t os ee t he bi l l owi ng ofdus t ;i t ’ sj us t i ncr edi bl e. " T of ur t heras s i s ti nt r ai ni ngcr ewsi nas s aul tl andi ngs , T r avi s AF Br ecent l y opened a ‘ l andi ng z one’ , al ongs i de t he t hr es hol d ofi t sr ecent l yr enovat ed Runway03R/ 21L .T he new paved l andi ng s t r i pi s 3500f tl ongand90f twi de,andwi l l al l ow C17( and i ndeedC130)cr ewsagr eatoppor t uni t yt ohone t hei rs ki l l swi t houthavi ng t of l ys ome di s t ance t o r eachanappr opr i at er unway.

As er i esofi magess howi ng t ypi calC17 ar r i val s and depar t ur es at Nel l i s AF B, Nevada, i ncl udi ng t he t r ademar k backdr oppr ovi dedbyS unr i s eMount ai n.

T op&Mi ddl e-Kar lDr age;Above&Mai n -PaulF i l mer

AT r avi sbi r dappr oachesNel l i sAF Bf orar unandbr eaki nt ot hevi s ual ci r cui t( Chr

Bot t om r i ght-Vi ew t hr ought heC17' sHUD.Att het i meofi t si nt r oduct i on,t hepr ovi s i onofaHUDwasun ar ebecomi ngi ncr eas i ngl ycommont hes edays .T heHUDi sex t r emel yus ef ul f ort heC17' st act i cal ope

T heai r cr af tcommanderbr i ef st hecr ew ofBEEL I NER10bef or eanear l y mor ni ngt r ai ni ngmi s s i on ( PaulDunn)

hr i sWood)

unus ual f oral ar geai r cr af t ,al t hought hey er at i ons .( PaulDunn)

I naddi t i ont of l yi ngt her ealai r cr af t ,mucht r ai ni ng i sper f or med i nt he C17 s i mul at oratT r avi sAF B. Even t hough t hi si nt er vi ew wasconduct ed when t hevas tmaj or i t yoft hepopul at i onhadnevereven hear dt he wor d' s eques t r at i on' ,bei ng f i nanci al l y awar e has been a maj or r equi r ement f or commander ss uch asL tColDi ngman f ors ome t i me. " S i mul at ordet ai l sar eabi gpar toft r ai ni ngf orcr ews and we’ r e t r yi ng t o i ncr eas e t hat .T her e’ sa f i s cal l ycons t r ai ned envi r onment whi ch ever y count r yi soper at i ng i nf ornow,whi chmeanswe havet owor ks mar tand f i gur eouta wayt okeep ourcr ewscur r entand s ave money and f uel ,s o we’ r et r yi ngt obes mar t erabouthow weut i l i s eour s i m. " Wecandoal mos tever yt hi ngi nt hes i m,buti t ’ snot t hes ame' s eatoft hepant s 't ypeoff l yi ng.Wear e t r yi ngt of i ndt hatf i nel i nebet weendoi ngwhatwe cani nt he s i m and s avi ng t he mi s s i onsf ort he j et .

We’ r et r yi ng t ober es pons i bl ebuts t i l lbet hebes t pi l ot swecanbe. " T he des i r et os ave moneyand r es our cesex t ends event of l yi ng oper at i onalmi s s i ons .Wi t hf uelcos t s maki ng up a l ar ge pr opor t i on ofex pendi t ur e on f l yi ng oper at i ons ,t her ei sa need f ori ndi vi dual s quadr onsand t he Ai rF or ce asa whol et o be car ef ulabouthow andwher ei tr ef uel si t sai r cr af t , i nt hes amewayasai r l i neshaveoper at edf ors ome t i me. " AMC have t r i ed t o be r eal l ys mar t ,es peci al l yi n t he l as tf i ve year s ,on f uelef f i ci encyand s avi ng moneybecaus e ever yt hi ng we do cos t st he t ax payermoney.T hel i ght ert hatwef l yt hel owerour f uelcons umpt i on,s oi fwe t ankergast hr ough pl aces( i e car r y addi t i onalf ueloverand above t hatr equi r ed f ort he f l i ght-Ed)i t ’ sgoi ng t o be mor eex pens i ve,unl es si tcos t smor et ogeti tont he gr ound. " Byand l ar ge,i fwe have t o hi ta t ankerand ai r r ef uel ,t hat ’ sver yex pens i ve,s o we’ vet r i ed t o be s mar taboutwher e we’ r e goi ng t ot ake gasand whowe’ r egoi ngt ogeti tf r om.I fi t ’ st os aveal i f e, we’ l labs ol ut el y do i ti nas econd.I fwe can managet hatt hough,wewi l l ;par tofwhatwedoi s bei nggoods t ewar dsofournat i onal r es our ces . "

T heex

T hes e l i f es avi ng aer omedi cal evacuat i on mi s s i onsar eavi t al l yi mpor t antr ol et hati sf ul f i l l ed

by C17 cr ews .Wi t h combatoper at i ons s t i l l bei ngconduct edi nAf ghani s t anandcas ual t i es s t i l lbei ng i ncur r ed,t her ei sa need f ori nj ur ed per s onnelt ober api dl yf l ownf r om t hecombat z one t os peci al i s thos pi t al s ,s uch asL ands t uhl Regi onal Medi cal Cent eri nGer many.

I ft hemi s s i oni snots ot i mes ens i t i ve,s t epscanbe t akent ot r yt or educet heamountoff uelus ed, and t her ef or et he cos toft he oper at i on.T he hel poft heT ankerAi r l i f tCont r olCent eratS cot t AF B,I l l i noi s ,i si nval uabl ei nas s i s t i ngC17ai r cr af t " T her e ar et i mes when we do aer omedi cal commander st opl ant hei rmi s s i ons . evacuat i ons ,wher e ourguyswi l lgetal er t ed f r om Rams t ei nAB,Ger many,t hey’ l lhavet of l y " T heyhel pusmanaget hemi s s i onandt r yt os t ay s t r ai ghti nt oBagr am,Af ghani s t an,pi ckupguys one s t ep ahead ofus .Of t en t i meswhen my whohavebeenhi tont hegr ound,andar ei na guysar e gi ven a mi s s i on,t hey’ l lbe t ol dt hat cr i t i cal phas eoft hei rl i f eandt hey' l l ai rr ef uel j us t whenyougett oBagr am,youguysar egoi ngt o af t ert akeof ff r om Bagr am s ot heydon’ thavet o t ake on 100, 000l bsoff ueland you have t wo s pendt het i meont hegr oundt oputongas . " hour sont hegr oundt odot hat . "

ex t r emel yr ar es i ghtofaUSAi rF or ceC17t ax yi ngoutatt henow def unctRAFCot t es mor e( Kar lDr age)

L i ke mos tAMC s quadr ons ,t he 21s tASi skept ex t r emel ybus ywi t h a combi nat i on oft r ai ni ng r equi r ement s , depl oyment s and oper at i onal mi s s i ons . Now and t hen, however , an ex cept i onaleventoccur swhi ch t akespr i or i t y.

One s ucheventoccur r ed on12J anuar y2010, when a di s as t r ousear t hquake hi tt he i s l and of Hai t i .

I mmedi at el yani nt er nat i onalr el i efef f or ts pr ang i nt o act i on,wi t ht he f i r s tC17 t ol and i n Hai t i bei ngf r om t he21s tAS .T heai r cr af tcar r i edover 80, 000l bsofcar goand73pas s enger s ,i ncl udi ng as peci al i s tur ban s ear ch and r es cue t eam.I t wast hef i r s tofmanyr el i eff l i ght sconduct edby t hes quadr onandt heUS AFasawhol e.

Mai n-Member soft he21s tASgat herf oras quadr onphot ogr aph;t hephot o aspos s i bl ewer epr es entathomebas e.F ormuchoft heyear ,as i gni f i cantp orf l yi ngmi s s i onsar oundt hewor l d( PaulDunn)

L ef t- T he l as t dr egs o ( PaulF i l mer )

t os hootwasar r angedwhenasmanyper s onnel pr opor t i onoft hes quadr oni sf or war ddepl oyed

ofs unl i ght hi tt he under s i des oft hi s C17

" Whatwedo,notj us ti nt heC17,buti nAMC, i s t r ul y about mor e t han del i ver i ng war f i ght i ng capabi l i t y.I t ’ saboutdel i ver i ng hel p and t aki ng car e ofpeopl e ar ound t he wor l d,s ot her e’ ss o manyt hi ngst hatwe do t hatdon’ tal waysgetr epor t ed. " T aki ng car go and f i r s tr es ponder si nt o Hai t i , br i ngi ngevacueesoutandal l t hos edi f f er ent pi ecesal l goi nt owhat ’ sr eal l ycool aboutt he C17and T r avi s ,aswe can do ever ys i ngl e pi eceofi ther e.T hat ’ swhatmakesusuni que att hi sbas e. " Asauni t ,t he21s tAShasar eadi l yappar ent camar ader i e and f r i endl y at mos pher e.As pr evi ous l ys t at ed att he s t ar toft he ar t i cl e, ever yone we metdur i ng ourt i me wi t ht he s quadr on waskeen t o ent hus e aboutt hei r ai r cr af t .I npar t i cul ar ,L tCol Di ngmani scl ear l y amanwhoi sver ypr oudoft het eam t hathe l eads ,andt heai r cr af tt hathef l i es . " I nt er msofcapabi l i t i est her e’ snotmuch i t can’ tdo.I ti sj us taf unai r cr af tt of l yandi t ’ ss o capabl e.I t ’ sl i ke f l yi ng a l i t t l ef i ght erj et ,but i t ’ sabi gai r cr af t .I t ’ sgotas t i ck,HUD,youcan pul l Gsi ni t ,t her e’ sal l ki ndsofgr eats t uf f . " S o,af t eral lt hat ,i st her eanyt hi ng atal lt hat hewoul dchange? " Idon’ tknow t hatI ’ d change much about t heai r cr af t ,butI ’ dl i ket ohavemor eoft hem!

Andmor epeopl eandpi l ot s ! "

Acknowl edgment s T he aut horwoul dl i ke t ot hankt he f ol l owi ng i ndi vi dual sf ort hei rhel p wi t h pr oduci ng t hi s ar t i cl e. F r om t he 21s t AS, L t ColJ os eph Di ngman ( CO)and L tJ ake Pr ui t t( Execut i ve Of f i cer ) ;MajMat t hew Abel eandt hecr ew of BEEL I NER10.I naddi t i on,CaptMel i s s aMi l ner , 1s tL tAngel aMar t i n,1s tL tKat i eCous i nsand SSgtPat r i ck Har r owerf r om t he 60t h AMW Publ i cAf f ai r sOf f i ce.

USC 1 7Gl obe mas t e rI I I Ope

60t hAMW

PaulDunn

Chr i sWood

T r avi sAF B,CA

62ndAW

J BL ewi s McChor d,WA

305t hAMW

Kar lDr age

J BMcGui r eDi x L akehur s t ,NJ

pe rat ors

436t hAW

Chr i sWood

Chr i sWood

DoverAF B,DE

437t hAW

Char l es t onAF B,S C

Kar lDr age

445t hAW

Wr i ght Pat t er s onAF B,OH

Kar lDr age

452ndAMW

Mar chAF B,CA

I naddi t i on,t hef ol l owi ngAF RC wi ngsar eAs s oci at eUni t s , whi chs har eai r cr af twi t hahos tAi rMobi l i t yCommanduni t : 315t hAW ( hos t edby437t hAW,Char l es t onAF B) 349t hAMW ( 60t hAMW,T r avi sAF B) 446t hAW ( 62ndAW,J BL ewi s McChor d) 512t hAW ( 436t hAW,DoverAF B) 514t hAW ( 305t hAMW,J BMcGui r eDi x L akehur s t )

Mi chaelCar t er

105t hAW

S t ewar tANGB,NY

Chr i sWood

172ndAMW

Al l enC T homps on ANGB,MS I naddi t i on,t hef ol l owi ngANG wi ngsar eAs s oci at eUni t s , whi chs har eai r cr af twi t hahos tAi rMobi l i t yCommanduni t : 154t hWg,Hawai i ANG ( hos t edby15t hWg,J BPear l Har bor Hi ckam) 176t hWg,Al as kaANG ( 3r dWg,J BEl mendor f Ri char ds on)

NonUSC1 7 RoyalAust r al i anAi rF or ce Commonweal t hCopyr i ght/RAAF

RoyalCanadi anAi rF or ce

T heCr ownCanadi anDepar t mentofNat i onalDef ence

1 7Oper at or s I ndi anAi rF or ce Mi chaelCar t er

NATO St r at egi cAi r l i f tCapabi l i t y

Mi chaelCar t er

T hes pect acul ars i ghtofa99S qnRAFC17cl i mbi ngawayf r om t he

Qat arEmi r iAi rF or ce

Mi chaelCar t er

RoyalAi rF o

Kar lDr age

ever ys hor tr unwayatRAFCos f or daf t erdel i ver i nganex US AFMH53t ot heRAFMus eum ( Kar lDr age)

F or ce

Uni t ed Ar ab Emi r at esAi rF or ce

Mi chaelCar t er

I mageSt eveComber

T as kF or ceCr i mea

BEL BEK

S i t ua s out Ukr a def e

uat ed 5.

6 mi l es t ot he Nor t h oft he ci t y ofS evas t opoli nt he ut hwes t er n cor ner of t he Aut onomous Republ i c Cr i mea, t he r ai ni anai rf or ce bas e atBel bekpl aysani mpor t antr ol ei nt he ai r f enceofUkr ai ne.Ni ckCr os sr epor t sf orGAM.I magesascr edi t ed.

T he bas e has a ci vi l i an and mi l i t ar y ar ea and doubl esas S evas t opol I nt er nat i onal Ai r por tal t houghbot hpar t sar e ent i r el ys epar at e.

T heai r f i el dwascons t r uct edby J une1941wi t houtahar dened r unway but t hi s was added af t ert he warand i tr emai ned i nex cl us i ve us e byt he mi l i t ar y unt i l t he1980s .

Af t erMi khai l Gor bachevcame t o power ,t he ai r f i el d was s i gni f i cant l y i ncr eas ed and i mpr oved asi twast obeus ed byhi m when t r avel l i ng t ot he pr es i dent i al dacha on t he s out her ncoas tofCr i mea,near F or os . Ci vi l i an movement s havebeenal l owedonandof f s i ncet hatt i me.

T heRunwayi s9, 863f tl ongand cant akeanyai r cr af tal t hough mos toft heci vi l i anf l i ght sar eof t hebus i nes sj etvar i et ycar r yi ng peopl et ot hepopul arCr i mean r es or t snear by.

I tl i esi na ver ys t r at egi c pl ace ont opofahi l lwi t ht hes eaon one s i de ( t her ei sa 60 met r e dr opatt heendoft her unway) ; onedowns i det ot hi si st hati ti s ver ywi ndyal otoft het i me.T he 23s hel t er son bas e wer e bui l t f orS u15s ;Mi G29swi l lf i ti nbut t he cl ear ance i ss o mi ni mal , t heyar enol ongerus ed.

T he 62nd Mi x ed Avi at i on Regi mentwasf or med dur i ng t he per i od 1525 S ept ember 1941,undert he command of Col onel IVS har apov.

T he combat body of t he Regi ment cons i s t ed of 12

Mi koyanGur evi ch Mi G3, 11 L avochki nGor bunovGudkov L aGG3and11Pet l yakovPe2; per s onnelcons i s t edof56f l i ght cr ew and134gr oundcr ew.

Dur i ngt heper i odofhos t i l i t i esi n def enceofCr i meai n1941( t hi s was dur i ng t he s i ege of S evas t opolwhen Ax i sf or ces f r om Ger many,Romani a,I t al y andBul gar i ai nvadedCr i mea) , T wo daysaf t ert he Regi ment t heRegi mentf l ew 855combat became act i ve on 28 s or t i esand 51gr oup bat t l es ,i n S ept ember1941i twasmoved whi ch 16enemyai r cr af twer e t oS akiai r f i el di n Cr i mea and s hot down. T he Regi ment t hen t ot he ai r f i el d atT akman des t r oyed26enemyai r cr af ton andj oi nedt heAi rF or ceoft he t hegr ound,about35t anks ,45 Cr i meanChor nomor s kyi f l eet . vehi cl es ,27gunsand a l ar ge

amountoft r oops .I nt hatt i me, t he Regi ment i t s el fs uf f er ed heavy l os s es-40% ofai r cr af t and25% ofper s onnel .

Navy) and woul dr emai ns o unt i l16 Mar ch 1960 when i t became 62nd F i ght erAvi at i on Regi ment PVO ( Ant i ai r cr af t Def ence) .

Dur i ng t he l at t erpar toft he war ,t he Cur t i s sP40Ki t t yhawk wasoper at ed f orovert hr ee year s( 194447)aswel last he Yakovl ev Yak9 ( 194547) .

On 22 December 1941 t he Repl aci ng t hes e wer et he Bel l Regi mentwasr eor gani s ed i n Af t erbr i efs t aysatMys khako, P39 Ai r acobr a, Bel l P63 t he vi l l age of Bor s ke i nt he Kr as nodar Kr ay ( MayJ une Ki ngcobr a( bot hs er ved f r om Kui bys hevs kyi di s t r i ct ,Donet s k. 1945) and Adz hi Bul at , 194750) and t he L avochki n Cr i mean Obl as t ( J une L a11( 195051) .

I n J une 1942, t he uni t was 19451947) ,t he uni tmoved t o Mai n-A r emi nderoft he pas t , r enamed as 62nd F i ght er i t scur r enthomeatBel bek. t hi s Mi G15 i s pr es er ved on Avi at i onRegi mentVMF( S ovi et bas eatBel bek ( Ni ckCr os s )

T heJ etEr a F r om 1951 t he Regi mentr ecei ved i t sf i r s tj et ai r cr af t and t hr ee t ypes f r om t he Mi koyan f act or i eswer ef l own.T hes e wer et he Mi G15, Mi G17 and Mi G19 and oper at ed atvar i ous t i mesupt o1968.

T he S ukhoiS u15wasoper at ed f r om 1968unt i l 1992andbet ween1974and1976t heRegi ment wasr et r ai ned ont he updat ed T M ver s i on,wi t h t hei mpr ovedT ai f unMr adarandpr ovi s i onf ora UPK23250 gun pod orR60 ( AA8 “Aphi d� ) s hor t r angeai r t oai rmi s s i l es .

I n 1980 t he Regi mentwasr emoved f r om t he Uni onofDef enceandt r ans f er r edt ot heOdes s a Mi l i t ar yDi s t r i ctAi rF or ces .I nt hi snew as s i gnment t he Regi menthonour abl yf ul f i l l ed i t st as ksand wasmar kedast hemos tcour ageousandwi t ha hi ghl evel ofr eadi nes s .

On19Apr i l 1986t heRegi mentwast r ans f er r edt o t heF i r s tDi vi s i onofAi rDef ence.F r om 19861990 t he per s onnel of t he r egi ment s ucces s f ul l y car r i edoutas s i gnment sf ort hepr ot ect i onoft he s out her nbor der soft hecount r y.

I n 1991t he Regi mentconver t ed t ot he S ukhoi S u27 and 14 ai r cr af tj oi ned t he 39 S u15T Ms al r eady i n us e.A Combatt r ai ni ng pl an was compl et ed ( t aki ng i nt o accountt he ar r i valof new ai r cr af t ) and f l i ght engi neer s and t echni ci ansoft he 1s tand 3r d Ai rS quadr on pas s edt heor et i calandpr act i calt r ai ni ng.F l i ght s t af foft heRegi mentandoft he1s tAi rS quadr on al s o s ucces s f ul l y compl et ed t he conver s i on t r ai ni ng.

On 19 J anuar y 1992 t he per s onnelof t he Avi at i onRegi mentt ookt he oat hofal l egi ance t ot he peopl e ofUkr ai ne and t he Avi at i on Regi mentj oi ned t he Ar med F or cesofUkr ai ne.

Dur i ng t he cour s e of 1992 t he S u27s wer e r epl aced wi t ht he Mi koyan Mi G29 and t hi s cont i nuest os er ve t he uni tt odayand f ort he f or es eeabl ef ut ur e.

‘ 20’s i t si nf r ontoft hebl as twal l us edf orgr oundbas edengi ner uns( Ni ckCr os s )

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I n connect i on wi t ht he 55t h anni ver s ar yoft he 62nd F i ght erRegi menti n 1996,i twasawar dedt hehonor ar yt i t l eof“S evas t opol ” .

On1J ul y1998t he62ndS evas t opolF i ght erRegi mentwasr eor gani s edi nt o t heS evas t opol F i ght erAvi at i onBr i gadeandt hr eeyear sl at eron1J ul y2001 t he Br i gade wasr eor gani s ed agai ni nt oa F i ght erAvi at i on Regi ment .Yet anot herchange occur r ed on 24December2007when i tbecame 204t h Br i gadeofT act i cal Avi at i on.

Above - Mi G29U mor e col our f ul s cheme t han count er par t s( Ni ck

Ri ght-T hi scl ean away f r om Bel be condi t i ons( St eve

L ef t-Engi ne bl an and ‘ 20’r es tont h ast he s un s et son ( St eveComber )

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9UB ‘ 84’ car r i es a t wot one col our i t s s i ngl es eat i ckCr os s )

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S i nce2009Col onelOl eks i yMar chenko( pi l otof t hef i r s tcl as s )hascommandedt hebr i gade.Hi s t ot alf l i ghthour sar e 1, 102and i nJ ul y2011he t ookpar ti nt hei nt er nat i onal ex er ci s e“S af eS ki es 2011� whi ch was a pr epar at i on f or t he ai r def ence oft he count r y dur i ng t he Eur o 2012 Champi ons hi pshel dj oi nt l ywi t hPol and.

F l yi ng t akespl ace t wo ort hr ee daysa week unl es soper at i onsdi ct at e ot her wi s e.T he Mi Gs ar eus edi nt heai rdef encer ol eandt hear eaof cover age ex t ends f r om Cr i mea as f ar as Mykol ai vandOdes s at ot hes out h.On5Augus t 2012,a f our s hi pf l ew overCr i mea t os i gnalt he 21s tanni ver s ar yoft heUkr ai ni anAi rF or ce.

x i esoutcar r yi ngwhatappear st obef ourVympel R73/ AA11ARCHERai r t oai rmi s s i l es( St eveComber )

Above-‘ 27’car r i esa ver ydi f f er ent‘ ear t hy’camo s cheme t ot he ot her ai r cr af tont heai r f i el d.

Res er veF l eet Over40Mi G29sar ecur r ent l yonbas e( s omear epar kedi nr es er vear eas f r om wher et heycanbe r et ur ned t os er vi ce i fneeded) .Aswi t ht he UK, f i nanci alcons t r ai nt sex i s twi t hi nt he Ukr ai ni an Ar med F or cess oi ti snot knowni f ,whenandbywhat ,t heMi G29swi l l ber epl aced.

Above - No f s i ngl es eatex amp can be s een i n pai nt wor k may ai r cr af t ar e con s t r uct ur al l y s ound r et ur nedt os er vi ce

Ri ght-Par ked aw packs i s‘ 04’ wi t vi s i bl e beyond t h backgr ound.

L ef t-T het woact i l i neoft ens t or edF

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f ewer t han ni ne pl esoft he Mi G29 nt hi ss hot . Whi l e be f aded, t he ons i der ed t o be nd & coul d be ei fneeded.

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t i veL 39shead t hi s F ul cr ums .

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Regi mentSt r uct ur e T her ear et wos quadr onsmaki ngupt her egi ment and t hes e ar es i mpl y known as1s tand 2nd s quadr on.

T he t wos eat( UB)ver s i on oft he Mi G29i sus ed onl yf ort r ai ni ng and t her e ar ef ouron s t r engt h wi t ht he uni tal t houghone wi l lbe comi ng f r om t her epai rpl anti nL vi vs hor t l y.

Pi l otT r ai ni ng Dur i ng myvi s i t ,t wo L 39swer e vi s i t i ng f r om 299 As s aul tAvi at i onBr i gade Regi mentatKul baki no ai rbas enearMykol ai v.I ti shoped t ohavef our bas ed i nt he f ut ur ef orpi l ot t r ai ni ng as t he Al bat r osi ss eenasanex cel l entai r cr af tf oryoung pi l ot sandi ti smuchcheapert of l yandoper at e t han t he F ul cr um.A Col l i nss i mul at ors ys t em i s al s oi nus ef orpi l ott r ai ni ng and t hi senabl esan i ns t r uct orands econdpi l ott os i tout s i dewhi l s ti ti s i nus ef oraddi t i onal t r ai ni ng.

Above -One oft wo vi s i t i ng L 39s .I ti shope bef or et oo l ong s mal lnumber soft he t ype bas edatBel bek ( Ni ckCr os s )

Ri ght-OneofBel bek’ sMi G29pi l ot spos esal o hi sai r cr af tt os how t hewaycr ewsmus tdr es sf ( Ni ckCr os s )

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T hemai nt enancehangarcant aket woMi G29s( t he S u27s di d not f i t ) . Anyt hi ng up t o mi ddl e mai nt enance can be car r i ed outher e butmor e i ndept hwor kr equi r esa vi s i tt o one oft he Ai r cr af t Repai rPl ant sl ocat ed el s ewher ei n Ukr ai ne.T he engi ne r unni ng bay i sneart ot he mai nt enance hangar compl et e wi t h al l as s oci at ed t es t i ng machi ner y and can accommodat e a f ul l af t er bur nert es t .T her e ar e no nearnei ghbour ss o noi s eabat ementi snotapr obl em.

T heot herpar t st hatmakeupt heRegi mentar et he Ai r f i el d Mai nt enance uni t( t heyar er es pons i bl ef or keepi ngt hebas ef r eeofF OD) ,aS ecur i t yuni tanda Radaruni t .

Ni ckCr os swoul dl i ket ot hankDeput yCommander of t he F i r s t Avi at i on Squadr on Maj or Vl adi s l av Kar das h, L i eut enant Col onel T .

O. St epanenko, L i eut enant I O Vor obyev, Vi t al i k Savenec and Col onel( Ret )Pet r o Mai dani uk f ort hei ri nval uabl e hel pandas s i s t ancewi t ht hi sar t i cl e.

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