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EDI TORI AL
Dur r atAlBahr ai ni sa s t unni ng s er i esofmanmadei s l andsl oca ul t i mat el yf eat ur ef i ves t arhot el s ,an18hol egol fcour s eandam
coul d have happened t ot he cont ai ner , or t he ai r cr af t del i cat el y pos i t i oned i ns i de, enr out e.F ort hes econds how on t he s pi n, one of t he UKbas ed par t i ci pant s di s cover ed j us tahead oft he eventt hatt he cont ai nert hei r ai r cr af twasi n woul d notbe r eachi ngi t sdes t i nat i oni nt i me. Makenomi s t akeabouti t :t hi si s not a game f or t he f ai nt hear t ed!
T oal li nt ent sandpur pos es–at l eas tt obegi nwi t h-Iwasonl y r eal l yofus ef orl i f t i ng,f et chi ng andcl eani ng,but ,whenatt he end of t he f i r s t day we’ d al r eadys ucces s f ul l ygr oundr un oneoft heai r cr af t ,t her ewasa r eal s ens eofs at i s f act i on.I had, i ts eems ,act ual l ybeen ofus e af t eral l ! T he nex tmor ni ng –ahead of t he t es tf l i ght s of t he t wo
cat ed ont hes out heas t er nt i p ofBahr ai n.T heUS $6bi l l i onpr oj ectr emai nsa wor ki npr ogr es sand wi l l mar i na ( HuaweiT wi s t erDuo)
ai r cr af t-I evengott odoal i t t l e wor kj us ta mat t erofi nches behi nd a s pi nni ng pr op,whi ch cer t ai nl y hei ght ened t he s ens es !
t hatt hey wer e abl et o dr aw t hei rs mokypat t er nsi nt hes ky. I twasonl ya s mal lt hi ng,but wi t ht he t eam s chedul ed t o per f or m t hr ee t i mes a day dur i ng t he ai r s how pr oper ,as Overt hecour s eoft henex tf ew wel l as under t aki ng PR days ,and i nt he abs ence of obl i gat i ons ,i thel ped t o eas e any bona f i de s moke oi l ,I t he s t r ai n on Pet e and Guya as s umed t he r es pons i bi l i t y of l i t t l e. t eam ‘ di es el man’ ,r epl eni s hi ng t he s t ocks and f i l l i ng t he I ’ ve al r eady r evi ewed BI AS ai r cr af taf t ereach di s pl ay s o 2014 over on t he Gl obal
Avi at i on Res our ce webs i t e, and you can ex pectt or ead mor e about t he advent ur e over t her e i n t he comi ng weeks . Ast he i mage above demons t r at es ,t her ewass ome t i mef oral i t t l ef unt oo! Kar lDr age Edi t or
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Debut i ngamongs tanas s or t mentofr at hermor ees t abl i s heddi s pl aya t he2014Bahr ai nI nt er nat i onalAi r s how ( BI AS) ,hel datS akhi rAi rBas t he DHL Avi at i on Di s pl ay T eam – br i ngi ng t oget hera r at heru f or mat i onofaBoei ng757wi t hs i ngl eex ampl esoft heEx t r a200and 300ai r cr af tt ypes . Kar lDr age t al kst ot he peopl er es pons i bl ef orp t hes ever ydi s s i mi l arai r cr af tt ypest oget heri nt hes amepi eceofs ky.
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or egul arat t endeesofai r s howsi nt heUK, at l eas t ,t he s i ght ofa DHL f r ei ght er per f or mi ng a di s pl ay i s unl i kel yt o be anyt hi ngnew,wi t hbot ht heBoei ng757and767 havi ngappear edatevent si nt hel as tdecade. Whatwoul d have been new,however ,woul d have been t he pr es ence oft wo l i ght aer obat i c t ypess epar at ed by t he mat t erofa mer et en met r esf r om eachwi ngt i p. AtBI AS2014,t hat ’ s pr eci s el ywhathappened,and,i ti scl ai med,t hi s wast hef i r s tt i mea di s pl ayoft hi st ypehasbeen per f or medanywher ei nt hewor l d. T heEx t r as ,T heDHLAer obat i cT eam ands por t i ng t he t r ademar k yel l ow and r ed DHL cor por at e l i ver y,wer ef l ownbyBr i t i s haer obat i cpi l ot sAdr i an Wi l l i si nt wos eat Ex t r a 200 GEEEK and Chr i s Bur ket ti ns i ngl es eatEx t r a 300SGEXI L . Notonl y wasBI AS2014 t he f i r s tt i me t hatt heywoul df l y t oget herwi t ht he757,i twasal s ot hef i r s tt i met hat t heywoul ddi s pl ayt oget herf ort hepubl i ci nDHL col our s .
Adr i anWi l l i s-Ext r a200 Remar kabl yAdr i anhasbeenf l yi ngs i ncet heage ofei ght ,havi ng s t ar t ed outon gl i der s . Af t er s pendi ng a decade asan of f i ceri nt he Br i t i s h Ar my Par achut e Regi ment , Adr i an changed s er vi ces and s et out on a pr of es s i onalf l yi ng car eerwi t ht heRoyalAi rF or ce,dur i ng whi chhe f l ew t ypes s uch as t he Hawker Hunt er , BAE S ys t emsHawkand t heEngl i s hEl ect r i cCanber r a. He al s o hasr ot ar yt i me i n hi sl ogbookand has evenf l ownt heEur opaAi rS hi p. Att heconcl us i onofhi smi l i t ar ycar eer ,Adr i anr an as ucces s f ulmul t i nat i onalI T company bef or e s et t i ng up t he Br i t i s h Aer obat i c Academy ( www. Br i t i s hAer obat i cAcademy. com)wher e he act sasChi efF l yi ngI ns t r uct or .
Chr i sBur ket t-Ext r a300S Chr i s ,meanwhi l e,f i r s tcaughtt heaer obat i csbug f l yi ngadeHavi l l andChi pmunk,andhadanear l y t as t e ofdi s pl ayand f or mat i on f l yi ng aspar tof Capt ai nNevi l l e’ sF l yi ngCi r cus .
Above -Ex t r a pi l ot sAdr i an Wi l l i s( l ef t )and C pr act i ceatS akhi rAi rBas e,homeoft he2014B
Bel ow -A9CDHEwasdel i ver edt oEas t er nAi r l i n USAi r( and t he l at erUSAi r ways )and RyanI conver t edi nt oaf r ei ght erf orVARI GL ogi s t i ca December2012.S eenher eci r cl i ngar oundt h
Chr i sBur ket t( r i ght )s har eaj oke af t era di s pl ay 4Bahr ai nI nt er nat i onal Ai r s how ( Kar lDr age)
i r l i nesi nNovember1984andwasl at eroper at edby I nt er nat i onali nt he pas s engerr ol e bef or e bei ng ai n2007.S hej oi nedt heDHLAvi at i onMEAf l eeti n t heS akhi rT ower( L i z aRabi e)
F or t he l as t decade hi sf ocus has been advanced aer obat i cs ,f i r s t l yi n a Pi t t sS peci al ands i nce2008i nanEx t r a300S ,wi nni ngs ever al t r ophi esi naer obat i ccompet i t i ons .He’ shel da UK CAA Di s pl ay Aut hor i s at i on s i nce 2006, oper at i ng as GF or ce Aer obat i cs ( ht t p: / / www. gf or ceaer obat i cs . com) bef or e t he dealwi t h DHLwass t r uck. He’ sper haps bes tknownamongs tt heai r s howgoi ngpubl i c f ora uni que r out i ne he f l i esal ongs i de a 40% s cal er adi ocont r ol l edmodel oft heEx t r a. Awayf r om f l yi ng,Chr i sr unsa companyt hat devel opsaer odynami cs of t war ef ort hedes i gn ofwi ngs .S omewhati r oni cal l y,t het echnol ogy i sus edmos tf r equent l ybyF or mul aOner aci ng t eamst o keep t hei rcar swel ded t ot he t r ack whent aki ngcor ner sathi ghs peed!
TheBoei ng757 Whi l s tt heUKar m ofDHL ,DHLAi r ,hasoper at ed t he Boei ng 757200Fs i nce J anuar y2001,DHL Avi at i onMEA onl yi nt r oduced t he t ype i nl at e 2011 i n or dert or epl ace i t sagei ng f l eetof Boei ng 727 f r ei ght er s . T hr ee 757s cur r ent l y s er vi ce t he DHL Ex pr es s Mi ddl e Eas t / Af r i ca net wor kf r om Bahr ai nt odes t i nat i onsl i keDubai , Kuwai t ,Bei r ut ,Ri yadhandAs mar a( Er i t r ea) . F i t t edwi t hagl as scockpi tandpower edbyt wo Rol l s RoyceRB211engi nes ,t het ypecancar r y payl oadsofupt o32, 000kgf orovers evenhour s or3, 000naut i cal mi l es . Meas ur i ng s ome 47 met r esl ong and wi t ha wi ng s pan of 38 met r es ,t he 757 wei ghs 53, 000kg empt y,a mer e52, 000kg+mor et han t heEx t r asf l ownbyAdr i anandChr i s ! Att hecont r ol sofA9CDHE,t he42nd757t or ol l of fBoei ng’ sRent on pr oduct i on l i ne and t he ai r cr af tus ed t hr oughoutt he s how i n Bahr ai n, wer e Capt ai n Chr i s Rabi e – DHL Avi at i on, Di r ect orofF l i ghtOper at i ons– and Capt ai n RogerWar e – DHL Avi at i on,F l i ght T r ai ni ng Manager . Act i ng as S af et y Pi l ot was F i r s t Of f i cerChr i sDodwel l .
TheCr ew ofBoei ng757A9CDHE Chr i sRabi e’ sf l yi ng car eerbegani n1989i ns out her nAf r i ca wher e he f l ew f ora numberofai r l i nesona var i et yoft ypesbef or ej oi ni ng DHL Avi at i oni n2004ont heBoei ng727.I nt ot al hehas11, 500f l yi nghour st o hi snameandhasbeenact i veont he757f l eets i ncei t si nt r oduct i oni n Bahr ai n. Rogerhasonl ybeenwi t hDHLAvi at i onf ort woyear s ,pr i ort owhi chhe f l ew f ora UKbas ed pas s engercar r i erand i ns t r uct ed ont he 757and bot hNG ( Nex tGener at i on)andCl as s i cver s i onsoft heBoei ng737.He has5, 500hour st ot alt i me,4, 000ofwhi char eont he757.Hei sal s oa Bahr ai ni BCAAandUKCAAappr ovedex ami neront het ype.
TheDHLAvi at i onDi s pl ayTeam Mal col m Macbet h,DHLAvi at i onVPMi ddl eEas tandAf r i ca,ex pl ai ned t omewhyt heor gani s at i onhaddeci dedt ot akes uchanact i vepar ti n t hef l yi ngdi s pl ayatBI AS2014: “T hi syearf ort he f i r s tt i me,DHLt ookon t he r ol e ofOf f i ci alL ogi s t i cs Par t ner f or t he 2014 Bahr ai n I nt er nat i onalAi r s how. T hi s ent ai l ed coor di nat i ngandmovi ngal l t heai r s how mat er i al ar r i vi ngi nBahr ai nby r oad,s eaandai r-f r om t hes eapor t ,r oadbor derandai r por t–t oS akhi r Ai rBas e and t hendi s t r i but i ng t he mat er i alt ot he ex hi bi t i onhal l sand chal et s .Af t ert hes how al l t hemat er i al t henhadt omovebackhomeor ont ot henex tai r s how –t hemai nonebei ngHyder abadi nI ndi a. ” Bahr ai ni st he home ofDHL and t he cent r alpl at f or m f orourai r oper at i onsi nt heMi ddl eEas t .DHLAvi at i onhavebeenf l yi ngdedi cat ed car go f l i ght st o and f r om Bahr ai ns i nce 1979whena F okkerF 27f l i ght wasi naugur at edbet weenBahr ai nandRi yadh-s ot hi syeari sour35t h anni ver s ar y of uni nt er r upt ed oper at i ons i n Bahr ai n. Wi t hs uch a pr es ence i nt he count r yand t he added par t i ci pat i onf r om bei ng t he Of f i ci al L ogi s t i csPar t ner ,wef el ti ti mpor t antt ogi ves omet hi ngbackt o t hecommuni t yats uchanat i onal andi nt er nat i onal l ys i gni f i cantevent . “I npr evi ousyear swehavehadai r cr af ti nt hes t at i cdi s pl ayands i mpl e f l ybysofDHLandDHLaf f i l i at edai r l i nes .Wewant edt oputonmor eofa s how t hanj us tt hatandgi ves omet hi ngbackt ot hecommuni t yi nt er ms ofput t i ngonas pect acl e.Wehadaf ew t hought sbutwi t hl i t t l et r act i on comi ngf r om t hem.T hat ’ swhenChr i sandRogercamet omewi t ht hei r i deaofcombi ni ngaB757di s pl aywi t hf or mat i onaer obat i cs ! ” “We gott he gr een l i ghti nS ept ember ” ,Adr i an conf i r ms ,“and we neededs omebodywhonotonl ywasupt ot hef l yi ngchal l engebutwas an ex cel l entt eam pl ayerand s omebodyyou woul d wantt o be i n bus i nes swi t h;Chr i s( Bur ket t )wast het opcandi dat e” .
Above-T heDHLAvi a
Bel ow -Avi ew f r om a Bahr ai nI nt er nat i ona di s pl ayspr ecedi ngt h
i at i onDi s pl ayT eam;F r om l ef t :Chr i sBur ket t ,Adr i anWi l l i s ,Chr i sRabi eandRogerWar e( L i z aRabi e)
al mos tunder neat ht he757asi tci r cl est he alCi r cui t dur i ng one of t he pr act i ce t hes how ( L i z aRabi e)
Bel ow -T heEx t r af us el agess i tal ongs i deas epar at epal l et cont ai ni ngt hewi ngsonboar dt heDHL / Aer ol ogi cBoei ng 777F ( Naj waRas l an)
Get t i ngt oBahr ai n Wi t hbot hAdr i anandChr i s ’ ai r cr af t bas ed at L i t t l e Gr ans dennearCambr i dge, t hepai rwoul dr equi r es ome as s i s t ance t o compl et et he near4, 000 mi l ej our ney t o Bahr ai n,asChr i sex pl ai ns : “Our Bahr ai n advent ur e s t ar t ed i na wetand wi ndy L ei ces t er , wher e we di s as s embl edt heEx t r aswi t h t he hel p of our engi neer Mar kDavi esandhi st eam at S wi f t ai r . T hey wer e col l ect edbyDHLandt aken t o t hei r UK hub at Eas t Mi dl andsAi r por t ,f ora f l i ght on a DHL / Aer ol ogi c Boei ng 777t oBahr ai n,vi aL ei pz i g. “T hi sr eal l yi st he f i ve s t ar opt i on when i t comes t o s hi ppi ng your pr eci ous car go, and we ar e i mmens el ygr at ef ult o al lat DHL UK who hel ped t o ar r ange t hi s .We wer e abl e t o accompany t he ai r cr af t onboar d our s el ves , whi ch was f as ci nat i ng i n i t s el f . Havi ng t he DHL Ex t r as as car gocr eat edqui t eal otof i nt er es t ,notl eas tf r om our 777capt ai n! “On ar r i vali n Bahr ai n we wer e abl et o benef i tf r om t he gr eat s uppor t of DHL Avi at i on EEMEA whi ch has i t sr egi onalbas e atBahr ai n I nt er nat i onal Ai r por t , and we r ebui l tt he Ex t r asi nt he DHL hangar t her e bef or e f l yi ng t hem down t oS akhi r Ai r Bas e, home of t he ai r s how. ”
Mai n-S i ngl es eatEx t r a300SGEXI Lcanbes eencl os es tt ot hec ar r i val atBahr ai nI nt er nat i onal Ai r por t( Naj waRas l an) ;I ns et-Ca car goaheadofi t sonwar dj our ney ( Chr i sBur ket t )
camer aast hepal l etcont ai ni ngt het wof us el agesi sunl oadedf r om t heDHL / Aer ol ogi cBoei ng777Fon Capt ai noft heBoei ng777F ,Di et marGr os z ,t akesawanderbacki nt ot hehol dt ocheckouthi spr eci ous
TheRout i ne T he over al lDHLAvi at i on Di s pl ayT eam r out i ne compr i s ed f ourdi s t i nctel ement s ,s t ar t i ng wi t h t he pai r ed Ex t r a s equence t hat ,f or l ar ge por t i ons ,s aw Chr i s ’ pr opel l ers i t t i ng j us tof ft he backofAdr i an’ sai r cr af tast heyf l owedt hr ough as er i esofl oops ,hal fcubansand anupwar ds quar t ercl over .
“Whi l e No. 2i sf ocus ed ent i r el y on t he l ead ai r cr af t ,Iam compl et el yr es pons i bl ef ormaki ng s ur e Chr i sdoes n’ thi tt he gr ound.F i gur esl i ke quar t ercl over s ,l oopsandhal fcubans ,al l have gat ehei ght s .T hes ear ehei ght satt het op t hat ar et he mi ni mum neces s ar yt o ens ur et her ei s s uf f i ci ent r oom t o compl et et he downwar d
Adr i an des cr i beshi sr ol e asf or mat i on l ead as “put t i ng on a gr eat s how, and keepi ng ever yones af e” .Hei sr es pons i bl ef orpos i t i oni ng t he di s pl ays ot he cr owd can s ee i tbes t .“T hi s i nvol vescompens at i ng f orwi nd and maki ng s ur e we don’ tups ett he di s pl ay di r ect orby cr os s i ngt hedi s pl ayl i ne.T hef i gur eshavet obe f l own ver ys moot hl yand pr edi ct abl yand l i nes bet weenf i gur esmus tbemi ni mi s edt omai nt ai n ex ci t ementandens ur eacompactdi s pl ay.T hi s meanst hatcor r ect i onsneed t o be s mal land cons t ant .
pul l i ngel ementwi t houtcut t i ngt hemar gi nst oo f i ne.Havi ng achi eved each gat e hei ght ,my ai mi st of l yeachmanoeuvr es moot hl y,maki ng cons t antadj us t ment sf orhei ghtandpos i t i oni ng s ot hatwe cr eat et he appear ance off l yi ng cl os et os af et ymar gi ns ,wi t houtact ual l ydoi ng s o.
“T hemi r r orhal fcubanatt hes t ar t ,f l yi ngt owar ds t he cr owd and pus hi ng f r om 200’i sa good s t ar t i ng f i gur ef ormany r eas ons ,butf r om a pos i t i oni ngs t andpoi nt ,i tens ur esl ead( i nver t ed) hasanex cel l entvi ew.
“Asl eadIam al s or es pons i bl ef orcoor di nat i ng al lt he oppos i t i on manoeuvr es whi l e Chr i si s r es pons i bl e f or avoi di ng act i on. T he per f or mance di s par i t y doesdemand t hatwe car ef ul l ybr i efbef or ehand becaus et he s hape ofouroppos i ng f i gur esdoeschange s l i ght l y accor di ngt owi nd. ” F orChr i s ,t hepi ct ur ei squi t edi f f er ent :
T ax yi ngoutt ot her unwayatS akhi rAi rBas e( Kar lDr age)
“T her e ar et i mes ,cer t ai nl y ear l i eron dur i ng t r ai ni ng,when t he r ol e ofNo. 2f eel saki nt o gr abbi ng hol d oft he t ai lofa t i gerand t r yi ng har dnott ol etgo-knowi ngt hati fyoudot her e ar e' t eet h' att heot herend! “Pr edi ct abi l i t y and s moot hnes sf r om L ead i s
es s ent i al ,and i fbot hmember sar e wor ki ng up t oget hert he l ear ni ng cur ve i ss t eep.A l otofi t boi l sdown t o conf i dence:del ayi ng f ora s pl i t s econdi snotanopt i on-f or mat i onmanoeuvr es need t o be i ni t i at ed s i mul t aneous l y and t hi s r equi r esgr eatf ai t hi nL ead. “Oneoft headdi t i onal chal l engeswehavehad i sdi s pl ayi ngi ndi s s i mi l art ypes-anEx t r a200wi t h 200hp and an Ex t r a 300S wi t h 300hp. T he compl i cat i oni sf l yi ngf or mat i onaer osi nai r cr af t of di f f er ent wei ght s ,i ner t i as , wi ng l oadi ngs , powerandt hr ot t l er es pons e.T hankf ul l y,wi t ht he 200 as L ead and t he 300S as No. 2,t hes e di f f er encespr ovedmanageabl e. “T hei r wi ngs ar e al mos t i dent i cal s o aer odynami cal l yt heyar emat ched,andi fL ead
f l i esar oundonf ul l t hr ot t l eNo. 2cans t i l l keepup! “Aer obat i c manoeuvr es whi ch ar e s t r ai ght f or war dasas ol or equi r eagr eatdeal of pr act i cet oper f ecti nf or mat i on.F orex ampl e,a hal f cubant ur nar ound f i gur e,whi chi ncl udesa downwar dr ol l i ng ex i tf r om a l oop;No. 2 has
qui t eat ough j ob f l yi ng a s ki ddi ng,bar r el l ed, hal fr ol lar ound t he ax i alr ol lf l ownbyL ead -i t f eel sex t r emel yunnat ur al unt i l yougetus edt oi t ! “T he f or mat i on br eakand oppos i t i on pas sar e al waysf unt of l y.T hebr eak,whi chweex ecut e headi ng t owar dst he cr owd,i san8g pul lont o t he di s pl ay ax i sf r om a s t eppedback l i ne abr eas t .Dur i ng one par t i cul arpr act i ce f ort he Bahr ai ns how,Ihadmyneckangl edal i t t l et oo mucht oones i det os i ghtL ead,anddur i ngt he pul lwi t hi ns uf f i ci entbr aci ngmyhead s napped backwar dsundert hegandIhear dandf el tmy neckmake s ome nas t ycr acki ng noi s es .F l i ght L i eut enant J ami e Nor r i s ( T he RAF ’ s 2013 Eur of i ght erT yphoon di s pl aypi l ot )pr es cr i bed a har d bed and no pi l l ow -s ever alweeksl at er andmynecki ss t i l l s or e!
“Af t eranoppos i t i onpas st het r i ckybi ti sj oi ni ngt hef or mat i onbackup agai n ef f i ci ent l y.T her e ar et wo key i ngr edi ent sher e -t i mi ng and pr act i ce!Af t era f ew mor ef or mat i on f i gur eswe pul li nt o a pus h/ pul l humpt ybump' bur s t ' -whi chgi vesuss uf f i ci ents epar at i oni nt r ai l f orL ead t obr eakwhi l s tNo. 2commencesacoupl eofmi nut esofs ol oaer obat i cs . T he s econd el ementoft he r out i ne wasChr i s ’s ol o. Whi l s tChr i si s per f or mi ng,t he DHL757l ef ti t shol d and commenced anor bi ta mi l e downwi nd.T hi sal s o gave Adr i ans ome addi t i onalt i me t o pr epos i t i on t hel ower power edEx t r a200f oraj oi nupwi t ht he757. “T he Ex t r a 300Si ss ucha pot entaer obat i c per f or mert hati ti sni ce t o s howcas eaf ew ofi t st al ent s ,f ori ns t ancegyr os copi cf i gur es-' t umbl es ' of fvar i ousl i nes . ”
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Saf et yFi r s t Wi t ht he Boei ng 757bei ng s ucha l ar ge ai r cr af ti t pr es ent ed s ome uni que chal l enges and pot ent i al pi t f al l s f or t he Ex t r as but t he r ewar dswer es pect acul ar ,asChr i s Bur ket tex pl ai ns : “T obeabl et oj oi nupandper f or m af or mat i onf l ybyof ft hewi ngofa bi gj etwas an enor mous t hr i l lwi t houtdoubta hi ghl i ghtofmy f l yi ngcar eer .T hi swasnew t er r i t or y f or al l of us , and qui t e under s t andabl y t her e was a degr eeofner vous nes sont hepar t oft he f l yi ng di s pl ay commi t t ee, who wer e awar e t hat pr i or t o Bahr ai n t hi s had not yet been pr act i s ed. “T he over r i di ng s af et y concer n i nvol ves maki ng abs ol ut el y s ur e t hatatal lt i mest heEx t r ass t aywel l cl earoft he t r ai l i ng wake vor t i ces gener at edbyt hebi gj et .I r oni cal l y, t he757hasacqui r ed a r eput at i on f or t he s t r engt h of i t s wake t ur bul ence. Af t er a number of acci dent si nt he 1990s ,i nvol vi ng bi z j et scr as hi ng onappr oachaf t er al andi ng 757,t heF AA r ecl as s i f i ed t he757i nt ot he' heavi es t ' cat egor y f orwake s epar at i on r ul es ,al ong wi t ht hemuchl ar ger747and 767. Hence' f al l i ng behi nd't he757was nota pos i t i on t hatwe want ed t o geti nt o!Bear i ng i n mi nd t hatt he over l ap of our s peed r ange i s nar r ow -t he757cl os et oi t ss l owes t andt heEx t r a200neart oi t sf as t es t , t hi swasa haz ar dt hatwe wer e goi ngt obet aki ngs er i ous l y. ”
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Fi r s tI mpr es s i ons Chr i sr ecal l st hef i r s tt i met heyf or mat edont he757: “Ourf i r s tf l i ghtwi t ht he757wasbot hmemor abl eand r eas s ur i ng.Chr i s( Rabi e)andRoger ,t he757cr ew,ar e cl ear l y accompl i s hed pi l ot sand t hei rs peed cont r ol ands moot hnes swer eex cel l entt hr oughout .Wewer e abl et oj oi nupf r om ahi ghpos i t i on,t r adi nghei ghtf or s peed.We made s ur et hatAdr i an i nt he 200 was al waysont hei ns i deoft het ur nsi for bi t swer er equi r ed. “I twashel pf ul t hatasaf r ei ght er ,wi t hnocar goandno s eat s ,and wi t h a modes tf uell oad,t he oper at i ng wei ghtoft he757waskeptasl ow aspos s i bl e. “We benef i t t ed f r om t he advi ce and s uppor t of Capt ai nPhi lDur nf or d,ManagerF l i ghtS t andar dswi t h t heBahr ai nRoyalF l i ght ,memberoft heai r s how F CC, and wi t h ex per i ence ofdi s pl ayi ng bi gj et s .L i kewi s e wi t hs uppor tf r om Vi cL ockwood and Col i n Hague, di s pl ay di r ect or , we wer e abl e t o cons t r uct an i nt egr at ed Ex t r a pl us B757 di s pl ay s l ot , wi t h t he f or mat i onf l ybyast hecent r epi ece. “Al s o hel pf ul wer e Chr i s ( Rabi e) and Roger ' s ex per i ences of ' unus ual ' 757 ops ,f or ex ampl e, handf l own s pi r aldes cent si nt o ai r f i el dsi nI r aq and Af ghani s t an. ” “F orus ,ex ecut i ngas ucces s f ul l i nkupandf l ypas twi t h Chr i s( Bur ket t )andAdr i ani nt hei rEx t r aswast hekeyt o s et t i ng ourdi s pl ayapar tf r om t he nor malj etai r l i ner di s pl aysyou can s ee on t he ai rs how ci r cui t ” ,Chr i s Rabi et el l sme. “Pl anni ng t he s ynchr oni s at i on ofal l t hr ee ai r cr af tt ookl ong hour sofdi s cus s i on,s i mul at or t r ai ni ngandwasr ef i neddur i ngs omei nval uabl ehands onpr act i cei nt hedaysl eadi ngupt ot hes how. “Asourf l ypas twi t ht he Ex t r asdi r ect l yf ol l owed t hei r di s pl ays equence,i twasi mper at i ve t hatwe wer ei n pos i t i onwi t ht he757att her i ghtpl ace,att her i ghtt i me andf l yi ngt hecor r ects peedi nor dert oal l ow t heEx t r a f or mat i ont oj oi nuss eaml es s l y.T hi ss oundseas y,buti n r eal i t yi twasf arf r om t hat ,aswe had t o br i ng t he ai r cr af tf r om Bahr ai nI nt er nat i onalt oS akhi rever yday asi twasbei ng us ed f orcommer ci als er vi cesar ound t hes how s l ot s .
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“Wes oonr eal i s edt hatnotbegi nni ngourdi s pl ay f r om S akhi rbui l ti ns omedi f f i cul t i est hatneeded managi ng.T ogi veanex ampl e,ononeoft he s how dayswe pus hed backf r om ours t and i n Bahr ai nonl yt obebl ockedont het ax i waybyan ex ecut i ve j ett hathad i n er r orpus hed back wi t houtAT C cl ear ance.T hi s caus ed a l ong del ayi nt akeof fwhi ch coul d have caus ed a mi s s ed di s pl ay s l othad we nothave bui l ti n s omeaddi t i onal t i me. ” “T oenabl eust ol i nkupwi t ht heEx t r aswej oi ned a hol di ngpat t er natl ow l eveland cl os et ot he t hr es hol doft heact i ver unway” ,Rogerex pl ai ns . “T oocl os eandwewoul dbes eenbyt hecr owd and det r actf r om t heEx t r a di s pl ay,t oof arand t heEx t r aswoul ds t r uggl et oj oi nwi t hus . “We al s o needed t o know ex act l ywher e bot h Ex t r aswer e atal lt i mesi n or dert o adj us tour pos i t i on i nt he hol d,al l owi ng t he f or mat i on t o come t oget herqui ckl y and accur at el y.Any mi s t akesatt hi spoi ntwoul dr equi r e ex t ended hol di ngt i mewhi chwoul dhavecaus edabr eak i nt he s how and anover r unofoural l ot t ed s l ot t i me. ” “T of aci l i t at et he f or mat i on f l ypas twi t ht he Ex t r asatl ow s peed, ” Chr i ss ays ,“we had t o oper at eanempt yai r cr af twi t honl yenoughf uel t o compl et et he di s pl ay s af el y and r et ur nt o Bahr ai n.T hi sr educest henor malmanoeuvr i ng s peeds gr eat l y and i n us i ng appr oach and l andi ng f l ap,we wer e abl et o oper at e att he s peeds r equi r ed by t he Ex t r as whi l s ts t i l l mai nt ai ni ng an accept abl e s af et y mar gi n. Al t hough us i ng f l ap r educes t he ai r cr af t ’ s manoeuvr i ng s peeds ,i tal s oi nducess t r onger wake vor t i cesof ft he wi ng t i ps ,maki ng t he Ex t r aspos i t i oni ng i nt he ‘ wakef r ee’z one t hat much mor e cr uci al .Wi t hs ome pr eci s i on f l yi ng f r om Chr i sand Adr i an,t he Ex t r asanchor ed t o t heB757f l awl es s l y. “Wer eal l ycoul d nothaveas ked f ort wo mor e pr of es s i onaland di l i gent aer obat i c pi l ot st o havewor kedwi t h. ”
Gi ven how gr eat l yt hi st ype off l yi ng di f f er ed f r om t he wayt he 757 i s t ypi cal l yf l ownona dayt odaybas i s ,I ’ mi nt er es t ed t o hearhow i twas act ual l yf l own.Rogert el l sme: “Due t ot he unus ualat t i t udesand manoeuvr esr equi r ed,t he ent i r e 757 s equence,i ncl udi ng t he f l ypas twi t ht he Ex t r as ,wasent i r el yhand f l own wi t houtt heai doft heai r cr af t ’ sadvancedf l i ghtmanagement ,gui dance oraut opi l ots ys t ems . Whi l s tChr i sandI bot hhavecons i der abl eex per i ence i nhandf l yi ngt heai r cr af t ,i ti scer t ai nl ynots omet hi ngwedot oomuchof dur i ng l i ne oper at i onsand s o pr act i ce wast he keyt o a wel lex ecut ed di s pl ay. “Addi t i onal l y,wecar r i edas af et ypi l ot ,F i r s tOf f i cerChr i sDodwel l ,oneach f l i ght .Chr i sdi das t er l i ngj obt hr oughoutandhi scl earbr i efwast omoni t or al lt heai r cr af ti ns t r ument at i on,s ys t emsandpar amet er sandcal loutany hei ght ,s peedorconf i gur at i ondevi at i onswhi l s tal s oact i ngasat hi r dpai r ofeyesont hef l i ghtdeck. ”
Admi r i ngt heVi ew Wi t hs uchauni quef or mat i on,ever yonei nvol vedwaskeent oar r angean ai r t oai rphot os or t i et or ecor di t . Mar kJ ef f er i eswason hand t o hel p her e,wi t hhi st wos eatEx t r a300Labl et oactascamer as hi p.Whi l s ti twas much t o Mar k’ sf r us t r at i on,t he di ver s i on of t he boat car r yi ng hi s s i ngl es eatEx t r a 330S Ct oS audiAr abi a,and hi ss ubs equentneed t o ai r f r ei ghtt he t wos eat erf r om t he UK,wor ked i nf avourofmaki ng t hi s pos s i bl e. T wodayspr i ort ot hes how Iwasabl et of l ywi t hMar kf ora25mi nut es l ot overS akhi rAi rBas e and t he nei ghbour i ng Bahr ai nI nt er nat i onalCi r cui t , s pendi ng much ofi ti nver t ed and hangi ng i nt he s t r aps ! I twor ked br i l l i ant l y,however ,and,t hanks t os ome s uper b f l yi ng f r om Mar k, pr oduced a numberofi magesoft he DHLf or mat i on wi t h whi ch I ’ m par t i cul ar l ypl eas ed. T hevi ew wasqui t es pect acul arf orme,butwhatwasi tl i kef orChr i sand Adr i an,whower epos i t i onedf arcl os ert ot he757t hanwewer et ot hem? Adr i ant el l sme: “F or mat i ngont he757wasamagni f i centex per i ence. “ “S ome oft he gr eatphot ogr aphsr eal l ygi ve an i mpr es s i on oft he s i z e di f f er ent i al ” ,Chr i sadds .“S i t t i ng j us tof ft hewi ngt i pi sex t r aor di nar y-t he ai r cr af tf i l l sani mpl aus i bl ywi dear ci nyourf i el dofvi ew.Ever yt i mewedi d t hi si twasawei ns pi r i ng-buti ti sal s oi nt er es t i ngj us thow qui ckl yyoucan getus edt oi t !Byours econdt r i pi tbegant of eell i keaper f ect l ynat ur al t hi ngt obedoi ng. ”
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“F r om mypoi ntofvi ew,i twasal laboutt hej oi n up” ,Adr i ani skeent opoi ntout . “Att i mest he di f f er ence bet weenmymax i mum s t r ai ghtand l evels peedandt hes peedoft he757wasver y s mal l .Gi vent her i s kofdr oppi ngi nt ot hewakeof t he 757 any s l i ghtmi s j udgementwoul d have neces s i t at ed pul l i ng awayand notbei ng abl e t or ej oi n.T he j oi n up t her ef or e neces s i t at ed s t ar t i ngf r om 1, 000’abovet he757andget t i ngi t r i ghtf i r s tt i me.Ont hel as tdi s pl aydaywehada 1, 400’cl oudbas es ohadt oas kt he757cr ew t o adj us tt hei rhol dt o500’AGL .Nots omet hi ngt hat mos tai r l i ner sdo! ”
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TheBI AS2014Exper i enc e F ort he Ex t r as ,whi l s tAdr i an and Chr i s( Bur ket t ) ar ebynomeansuni quei nt er msofbei ngaUK di s pl ay act per f or mi ng at a Mi ddl e Eas t er n ai r s how,get t i ng t o debuts uch a novelactat onemus tbepar t i cul ar l ys at i s f yi ng. “T he whol e Bahr ai n ex per i ence was unf or get t abl e,and weowet hankst os o many peopl ef ormaki ngt hi shappen” ,Chr i st el l sme. “Anot hers t andoutmemor ywast hef l i ghtback t oBahr ai nI nt er nat i onalAi r por tpos ts how.Asa f i nalhur r ah DHLwasabl et o ar r ange f orust o j oi nupwi t ht he757vi aahol di ngpoi ntovert he
T he concl udi ng el ementoft he di s pl aywasa f i vemi nut es ol of r om t he 757. Rogert akesup t hes t or y: “F ol l owi ngt hef or mat i onf l ypas twi t ht heEx t r as , Adr i anand Chr i s( Bur ket t )br okeof ff orl andi ng as we commenced our s equence, whi ch i ncl uded r ever s al sand t i ghtor bi t s ,cul mi nat i ng i naf as tf l ypas tt oconcl udeourdi s pl ay.I twas i mpor t antf orust okeept heai r cr af tascl os et o t hecr owdl i neaspos s i bl edur i ngours equence; we had bot hs eenl ar ge j etai r cr af tf l yi ng wi de ci r cui t s and s i mpl e f l ypas t s bef or e whi ch i nevi t abl ymeantl ong per i odsofbor edom f or t he s pect at or sbet ween each pas s .T hi swas s omet hi ngt hatwedef i ni t el ywant edt oavoi d. “Achi evi ngt hi scl os ei ndi s pl aywast hegr eat es t chal l enge f orus ,ast he 757i sa l ar ge ai r cr af t whi chcar r i esa l otofmoment um and nor mal l y oper at esatr el at i vel yhi ghs peedsandal t i t udes . We r eal i s ed t he key woul d be t o keep t he ai r cr af tcons t ant l yt ur ni ngwi t hhi ghbankangl es athei ght swhi ch ampl i f i ed t he vi s uali mpact , whi l s tatal lt i mesens ur i ng t hats af et ymar gi ns wer e bui l ti n.T he f i nalhi gh s peed,l ow l evel f l ypas tl ed i nt o a f ul lt hr us t GoAr ound manoeuvr ewi t hahi ghnos eat t i t ude.Iam s ur e f r om t he gr ound t hi smus thave l ooked qui t e i mpr es s i vet ot hecr owdwhoar epr obabl ymor e us ed t os eei ng l ar ge ai r l i ner sl umber i ng outof maj orai r por t sheavi l yl aden wi t h pas s enger s , f r ei ghtandf uel . ”
Gul f ,and r uni nf ora f or mat i on f l yby att he ai r por t .Per f or mi nga r unand br eakat200f eet al ongt hemai nr unwayatBahr ai nI nt er nat i onal Ai r por t ,wi t ha757of fourwi ng,f el tal i t t l es ur r eal ! I twasgr eatt obeabl et os har et hi sex per i ence wi t hourkeys uppor t er si nDHL . ” “I ’ dj us tl i ket ogoonr ecor dandt hankt hewhol e t eam at DHL Avi at i on Bahr ai n, f r om s eni or management ,al loft he f l i ght cr ew,s af et y, oper at i ons and l ogi s t i cs s t af f ,t hr ough t o ever yonei nengi neer i ngwhohel pedus-s ome i naver y' handson'r ol ehel pi ngt odi s as s embl e andr eas s embl et heEx t r as . “DHLi nt heUKal s opr ovi dedgr eats uppor tand per f or med a f i r s tcl as ss er vi ce i nar r angi ng t he ai rf r ei ght i ngoft heai r cr af tt oandf r om Bahr ai n.
“T hanksal s ot o ourengi neerMar kDavi esand member soft he ot herdi s pl ayact si n Bahr ai n, whogavegoodcompanyandmut uals uppor t , i n par t i cul ar t he HuaweiT wi s t er Duo, Mar k J ef f er i esandal l oft heBr ei t l i ngWi ngwal kert eam. Ment i ons houl dal s ogot oS ar ahHar di ng,s how or gani s er ,andhercol l eagues ,whodi dagr eat j ob and managed t o s t ay cal m and unf l appabl et hr oughout .Gr at ef ul t hanksal s ot o our Di s pl ay Aut hor i s at i on Ex ami ner Br i an L ecomber ,f ors har i ngs omes ageadvi cedr awn f r om al i f et i meoff or mat i onaer obat i cdi s pl ays . ”
F r om t he DHLs i de,t he mes s age wasequal l y upbeat ,asMal col m Macbet hex pl ai ned: “T he s how t ur ned outt o be a mas s i ve s ucces s wi t ht heai r s how s i gni f i canl yl ar gert hanpr evi ous year sand over50, 000 peopl e pr es enti nt he t r adeandpubl i cvi ewi ngar easacr os st het hr ee days .Wehavehadmanycompl i ment saf t ert he s how onhow t heDHLpr es ences t ood outand t hatt he DHLEx t r af or mat i onwasone of ,i fnot t he bes tactoft he dayand ourpar t i ci pat i on wasmuchappr eci at ed. ” Ri char d Gal e,DHLAvi at i on Ai rCapaci t yS al es Di r ect or ,added:“Br and ex pos ur ei sofhuge i mpor t ance. F r om an Avi at i on Commer ci al per s pect i ve,havi ngt heabi l i t yt os howcas eour br and,whi l s thavi ng ourcus t omer spr es entt o s har et he ex per i ence,al l owed ust or ecogni s e t hei r cont r i but i ons and di s cus s f ut ur e devel opmentandoppor t uni t y.T heDHLAvi at i on di s pl ay at t he 2014 Bahr ai n I nt er nat i onal Ai r s how,demons t r at ed t o ourcus t omer sour candoat t i t ude. ”
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he A10hasbeenont he f r ontl i ne f orover t hr ee decades wi t h s quadr ons bas ed ar ound t he wor l d wher everUS f or cesar e f aced wi t h pot ent i algr ound t hr eat s .I ti san ai r cr af twi t ha s i ngul armi s s i on –one t hati s n’ t al wayss een asgl amor ouscompar ed wi t ht he ot herf as tj et si nt he USAi rF or ce butone t hat pr ovest i me and agai nt o be ofgr eatval ue t o t het r oopsont hegr ound.Atvar i oust i mes ,t he US AFhascont empl at edr emovi ngt heA10f r om s er vi ce but t he i nabi l i t y of any al t er nat i ve pl at f or mst opr ovi det heconcent r at eds uppor t , per s i s t ence and r uggednes st hat ar e t he hal l mar ksoft he A10meanst hati thasal ways beenr epr i evedt odat e.
T heA10C T he ques t i on mar kt hat has hung over t he ai r cr af tf ors ol onghasal s obeenani mpedi ment t oi nves t menti n new capabi l i t i es .T he r ecent upgr adeoft hef l eett ot heA10C s t andar dhas pr ovi ded t he f i r s tmaj orupgr ade wor t hy ofa des i gnat i on change s i nce t he f l eet ent er ed s er vi ce. I t has br ought s i gni f i cant new capabi l i t i esandt her ear emor ei ndevel opment t hatwi l l enhancet hej etf ur t her .
T r ai ni ngPi pel i ne Al lnew pi l ot s comi ng t ot he A10 ar e now t r ai ned on t he 357t hF S( t he “Dr agons ” )and 358t hF S( t he“L obos ” )atDavi s Mont han.Ot her t r ai ni ngl ocat i onshavenow beenconver t edt o anoper at i onalr ol es ot heuni tpr ovi dest r ai ni ng f orpi l ot sheadi ng t o act i ve dut y,Ai rNat i onal Guar dandRes er veuni t s .Ever yyearar ound40 br and new pi l ot sar e conver t ed and i ncl udi ng t r ans i t i onpi l ot st het ot al numberofpi l ot spas s i ng t hr ought het r ai ni ngs quadr onsr eachesaf i gur e of60.
Above-T hebr i ef i ngr oom i ns i det he357t hF S ’ so
Bel ow -Wel comet ot he“Dr agonsL ai r ” !T he35 f ew cr eat ur ecomf or t s .
soper at i onsbui l di ng.
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Above-F orA10s quadr ons ,Hawgs mokei sabi g deal !Pr oudl yon di s pl ay,t he Al“Mud�Moor e T r ophyf ort het opover al l A10uni t .Hawgs moke 2014i sex pect edt ot akepl aceatNel l i sAF B,NV.
Above -Compl et i ng t he neces s ar y pr ef l i ght paper wor k,i ncl udi ngs i gni ngf ort heai r cr af t . Al l i magest hi ss pr eadOl i verZ ar den
T he f ul lcour s ei sver yi nt ens i ve f ort he s t udent s . When t heyar r i ve on t he s quadr on t heywi l ls t ar tan i nt ens i ve academi cspr ogr amme. T heywi l lr ecei ve i ns t r uct i oni n t hes e academi ct opi csf r om r et i r ed A10i ns t r uct or sas wel lasunder t aki ngal otofs t udyont hei rown.Ast hey getupt os peedt heywi l l al s obei nt r oducedt oaHOT AS t r ai ner . HandsOn T hr ot t l e And S t i ck ar et he cont r ol i nput sf ormany oft he key ai r cr af ts ys t emst hatar e mount ed on t he t hr ot t l e and t he cont r ols t i ck. T he t hr ot t l et op i sbas i cal l yl i f t ed f r om t he F 15ES t r i ke Eagl e andt hes t i ckt opi ss t r ai ghtf r om t heF 16F i ght i ngF al con. S i ncet heunder s t andi ngoft hes ei nput si ss oi mpor t ant ,i t i ss eenaswas t ef ul oft i mei nt hef ul l s i mul at ort oj us tl ear n t hes ei nput s .I ns t ead,t hi st r ai ni ngt ool al l owst hes t udent s t o make t he cont r ol ss econd nat ur es ot hatt heycan makemax i mum us eoft het i mei nt hes i mul at or . Att heendoft wot ot hr eeweeks ,t hes t udent swi l lhave wor ked t hr ough t he i ni t i alel ement soft he academi c pr ogr amme,wi l lhave f ami l i ar i s ed t hems el veswi t ht he HOT AScont r ol sandwi l l havehadt woort hr eet r i psi nt he s i mul at or .T hen t heywi l lt ake t hei rf i r s tf l i ghti nt he j et . S i nce t her e ar e no t wos eat erA10s i ns er vi ce,i ti s i mpor t antt o gett he s t udent sup and f l yi ng ass oonas pos s i bl e. I ft heydo notf l ys oon,t heywi l ll os ecur r ency and,i nt he abs ence ofa t r ai ner ,t heywi l lhave t o go backt oa T 38uni tt ogetcur r entagai n.T her ef or e,t he s chedul i ng of t hei rt r ai ni ng pr ogr amme i s car ef ul l y moni t or ed.T hi si s s uecancomeupt hr oughoutt hei rt i me ont hej eti fei t hert heyar enotcar ef ulorbad l uckwi t h s er vi ceabi l i t yi nt er venes .I ft her ei smor et hanaf i veday br eaki nt hei rt r ai ni ngf l i ght s ,t heywi l lneedanex t r ar i de t ocovercur r ency! T he s quadr onhasacces st o about15i ns t r uct or s .T hey wi l lbe ver y avai l abl et ot he s t udent st hr oughoutt he t r ai ni ngpr oces sbutpar t i cul ar l ys oi nt heear l ydays .T he s t udent swi l lbe wor ki ng har d dur i ng t hei rt i me onbas e butwi l lt henhavea gr eatdealmor es t udyi ng t odoat home.T hi swi l lnotal waysbet hei rhomeei t hers i ncea t r i pt ot hei ns t r uct or ’ shomei scer t ai nl ynotuncommon. S i ncet hei ns t r uct ori snoti nt heai r cr af twi t ht hes t udent , t heyhavet ohaveever yt hi ngt ot al l ypr epar ed.Whi l eal l s t udent s , what ever t he j et t hey ar e f l yi ng, wi l lbe ex pect ed t oknow ex act l ywhatt heyar edoi ng and t o havepr epar ed t hor oughl yf orever yf l i ght ,t hel ackofa s econdper s oni nt hej ett oobs er vewhati sbei ngdone and t oi nt er vene doesadd an addi t i onalel ementof pr es s ur e.
A
Above-Whi l ei tdoes n’ tpr ovi det hef u pr ovi desa ver yr eal i s t i c pl at f or m f or i ncl udi ngaer i al r ef uel l i ng,ascanbes ee
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f ul l mot i onex per i ence,t heA10s i mul at ordoes orpr act i s i ng al lmannerofmi s s i on s cenar i os eent aki ngpl aceher e( Kevi nJ acks on)
1L tJ amesRos enaui s‘ headsi n’ashepr epar es s hi pmi s s i on ( Ol i verZ ar den)
I ns t r uct or swi l lbef l yi ngchas eai r cr af tmuchoft he t i me t o obs er ve whatt he s t udenti sdoi ng. T he ex per i enceofhavi ngdonet hi smanyt i mesbef or e and havi ng s eent he t hi ngst hats t udent scando t hatar eunex pect ed doespr epar et hei ns t r uct or s wel l t omanages i t uat i onsbut ,i nt heend,t heycan onl yt al kt ot he s t udentovert he r adi o and,i ft he s t udenti snotcor r ect i ng a det er i or at i ng s i t uat i on, t her ei snot hi ng t he i ns t r uct orcan phys i cal l ydo. T he t r ai ni ng s chedul e, t he br i ef i ngs and t he pr ocedur esadopt edar ebas edonmanyyear sof ex per i enceofhow t hi ngscanwor kbes tandhow t hey can go wr ong, al ways ai mi ng t o avoi d r epeat sofanyt hi ng bad f r om t he pas t . Wi t ha di s cr et ef r equencyf ort hes t udentandi ns t r uct ort o us e,t her e wi l lbe an al mos tcons t antl evelof communi cat i on bet ween t he t wo,onl ybr eaki ng wheni ti sneces s ar yt ocommuni cat et oai rt r af f i c cont r ol . T her e ar e var i ouss t agest hatt he s t udentwi l lgo t hr oughf r om bas i ct r ai ni ngi nf l yi ngt hej et ,addi ng var i ouscapabi l i t i esunt i lal las pect soft he j et ’ s oper at i onhavebeencover ed.S omeoft hes ear e mor e chal l engi ng t han ot her sand t he i ns t r uct or s wi l l t el l youoft heonest hatt heyl ookf or war dt ot he l eas t . T hes e ar en’ t al ways t he f i r s tt i me at s omet hi ngei t her .Ast henew pi l otbegi nst ogai ni n conf i dence,t heycant hi nkt heyar emor eahead oft he j ett hant heyr eal l yar e,and t he i ns t r uct or s havet obecons t ant l yvi gi l antt okeep ever yt hi ng s af eandundercont r ol . Onef eat ur eoft heA10t hatmakesi tdi f f er entf r om a t r ai ni ng per s pect i ve t han ot her f as tj et si s endur ance.Mos tt r ai ni ngs or t i eswi l ll as tt wohour s ormor e.T heA10doesnotbur nf uel f as tbecaus e i tdoesnotgo f as t . Wi t h no af t er bur ner ,get t i ng overt wo hour si na t r i pi snota pr obl em. T hi s pr ovi desa l otoft i me f orl ear ni ng s i nce t he t i me away f r om t he bas i c depar t ur e and ar r i val pr ocedur esi spr opor t i onat el ygr eat er .T r ans i tt i mes ar e al s oi ncr eas ed ofcour s e. However ,t her ei s pl ent y ofs cope t o make s ur et he l es s onshave been l ear ned. I ft he s t udenti s n’ thappywi t ha t r ai ni ng poi ntort he i ns t r uct ors eess omet hi ng of concer n,i ti snotapr obl em t ounder t aket hepoi nt agai n. T hi sf l ex i bi l i t ys i gni f i cant l yi ncr eas es t he ef f ect i venes soft het r ai ni ng.
T he t r ai ni ng mat er i al shave s een a s i gni f i cant devel opment i n r ecent year s . Pr evi ous l y, i ns t r uct or s woul d cr eat e much oft hei rown t r ai ni ng mat er i al .T heywoul d bas ei ton t hei r own ex per i ence and i t woul d al s o be dependentont hei rowns ki l l satcr eat i ng vi s ual t ool s . Keepi ng t he mat er i alup t o dat e was of t en a pr obl em wi t h vi s ualai dsr ef l ect i ng ol d s t andar dsoft heai r cr af t .Now,acomput er i s ed s ys t em has been i mpl ement ed t hat t he s quadr on cont r ol s . I t pr ovi des gr aphi cal i nf or mat i on on t hi ngs s uch as f or mat i on pos i t i ons ,per s pect i vest obeex pect edi n cer t ai ns i t uat i ons ,r angel ayout s andpr ocedur es ,di s pl ay s ymbol ogyaswel l as
T he i ncr eas e i n t r ai ni ng ef f ect i venes s has al l owed a maj orbenef i tt ot he oper at i onal s quadr ons . Att he concl us i on oft he t r ai ni ng pr ogr amme,t hes t udenti scons i der ed combat qual i f i ed. T hey do not need any f ur t her conver s i on wor kt o be under t aken on t he s quadr ont hatt heyar e as s i gned t o. I nt heor y, t heycoul d go s t r ai ghtf r om t he s quadr ont oa depl oyment .T hi si snoti dealbutt her e have beencas eswher e newl yqual i f i ed cr ewshave beeni nt heat r ever yr api dl y.T hes quadr onswi l l
phot ogr aphsoft heai r cr af tconf i gur edi nmany di f f er entr ol es . T hi smat er i ali spr oj ect ed on i nt er act i ve s cr eens s o t he i ns t r uct or can annot at et he mat er i alwi t h not esdur i ng t he br i ef .Mor ei mpor t ant l y,i faner r ororoutofdat e pi ece ofi nf or mat i on i si dent i f i ed,one cl i ckon t he s cr een al l owst hi st o be f l agged up f or amendmentbyoneoft hes quadr onmember s . As s oon as t hi s updat e i si mpl ement ed, i t aut omat i cal l ys howsupf orever yi ns t r uct orand s t udentwhen nex tacces s ed. T hi sf l ex i bi l i t y pr ovi desgr eatt r ai ni ngt ool sand enhancest he s peedwi t hwhi chl es s onscanbel ear ned.
s t i l lhaveat r ai ni ngpr oces sf ort aki ngt henewl y qual i f i ed pi l ot t hr ough t o addi t i onal qual i f i cat i onsbutt heycan make us e oft hem f r om day one. As new capabi l i t i es ar e i nt r oducedt ot hej et ,t het r ai ni ngs yl l abushast o beupdat edt or ef l ecti t . T he nex t ongoi ng upgr ade concer ns t he i nt r oduct i on of t he J oi nt Hel met Mount ed Cuei ng S ys t em ( J HMCS ) ,whi ch pr ovi des an even gr eat erl evelofs i t uat i onalawar enes st o t he pi l ot s and s peed i n i dent i f yi ng and des i gnat i ngt ar get s .I ti spl annedt hatt he357t h
F Swi l lr ecei ve i ti nJ une 2014,and s of ari thas t o get t hem back t o a poi nt wher e t he beenwel lr ecei vedwi t hmos tpi l ot sl i ki ngi tver y compet enci esi nal l ar easofoper at i onsar ewel l much. honed. Asment i oned bef or e,t he t r ai ni ng does n’ tend whent hepi l ot sar eas s i gned t oanoper at i onal s quadr on. T he s quadr ons r un a cont i nuous pr ogr ammeofdevel opi ngt hepi l ot swhet heri ti s movi ng up t o l eadi ng t wos hi p f or mat i ons , l eadi ng f our s hi p f or mat i ons ,s peci al i s i ng i n combats ear ch and r es cue orbecomi ng an i ns t r uct orpi l ot . Mai nt ai ni ng al loft he cor e capabi l i t i esi sa maj orr equi r ement . Ofcour s e, per i odi cal l y,t heuni twi l l depl oyt ot heat r e.T hi s
Api l otwi l l t ypi cal l yf l yabout20hour spermont h onanoper at i onals quadr on. Newerpi l ot sar e r equi r ed t of l yatl eas tni ne s or t i esa mont ht o mai nt ai ncur r ency,whi l et hemor eex per i enced pi l ot s have a s l i ght l yl owerr equi r ement . I n addi t i on,t heywi l lpr obabl ymake a coupl e of t r i pst ot he s i mul at or . Whi l ei ti s n’ ta mot i on bas ed s i mul at or ,i tdoespr ovi de good t r ai ni ng wi t ht hes ys t emsi nt hej ets uchast het ar get i ng podandt hedat al i nk.T heabi l i t yt onet wor kt he s i mul at orwi t h ot hert r ai ni ng devi cesi n ot her l ocat i onscanenhancet het r ai ni ngcapabi l i t y.
can change dr amat i cal l yt he t as kst hatt he cr ewsar er equi r ed t o under t ake. Depl oyment t o Af ghani s t ancanmeana l otoff l yi ng hour s . However ,t hi si si na l ow t hr eat ,ai rdef ence envi r onmentandcons i s t smai nl yofs ur vei l l ance act i vi t i esus i ngt het ar get i ngpodal ongwi t ht he empl oymentofweaponswhenr equi r ed.Whi l e t hi si savi t alt as ki nt heat er ,i tpr event smanyof t he s ki l l snor mal l y par toft he t r ai ni ng r egi me f r om bei ng ex er ci s ed. Cons equent l y,upon r et ur nf r om depl oyment ,t he s quadr on hast o under go a maj orr et r ai ni ng per i od. T hey wi l l bas i cal l ys pi nupt hewhol euni tf r om t hebas i cs
T hi smeansa pi l otcoul d have a wi ngmani na s econdA10,aJ T AC cal l i ngi nf r om t hegr ound, aJ S T ARScr ew l ooki ngatt heover al l pi ct ur eand maybe a S t r i ke Eagl e cr ew f l yi ng cooper at i ve mi s s i ons . T hi si s good t r ai ni ng f ordepl oyed mi s s i ons . Under per f ect Ar i z onan s ki es ,t hi s 354t h F S “Bul l dogs ” A10 wai t s at t he EOR ( End Of Runway)ar med wi t h a pai rofi ner tAGM65 Maver i cksand car r yi ng Mk76pr act i ce bombs ont hef us el agehar dpoi nt s( Kevi nJ acks on)
T he upgr ade cycl e a pi l otgoest hr ough i sa maj orpar tofongoi ng s quadr on oper at i ons . Many oft he mi s s i onswi l lbe i ns uppor toft he upgr ade pr ogr ammes .T he pi l otunder t aki ng t he upgr ade i sobvi ous l y i nvol ved butt her e wi l lbe r equi r ement son i ns t r uct orpi l ot saswel las addi t i onalcr ewst o make up what everpackage i si nvol ved. Bei ng a wi ngmanons uchas or t i enotonl yex pos est hej uni orcr ewst os omeoft he mor ecompl exmi s s i onr equi r ement sbutal s oal l owst hes eni orof f i cer st o i dent i f ywhi chcr ewsar er eadyf orupgr adest hems el ves .
Above -Car r yi ng and s peci al“355 t hi sA10pi l oti sl oo t hecamer al ens(
Ri ght-T he canno Bar r y M. Go ( Kevi nJ acks on)
L ef t- Rocket po Mk76 pr act i ce bo wi ng and L ANT I RN Maver i ck and bombs on t he ( Ol i verZ ar den)
T op l ef t - 1L t per f or mshi spr ef l maki ng s ur e not h pl ace ( Ol i verZ ar d
g a whi t ef i nband 5 WI NG� mar ki ngs , oki ngs t r ai ghtdown ( Kevi nJ acks on)
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J ames Ros enau f l i ghtwal kar ound, t hi ng l ooks outof r den)
Whi l e no dayi st ypi cal ,i ti snor malt o have 1822 s or t i esf l own on t he uni t . Whi l et he s or t i esmay l as taboutt wo hour s ,t he whol e mi s s i on f ort he pi l ot under goi ngt heupgr adei sl i kel yt ot ake t he bes tpar tof24 hour s . T he day bef or et hef l i ght ,t heywi l lbegi vent he mi s s i on and t hey wi l ls t ar tt hr owi ng t oget hert he mi s s i on out l i ne on whi t e boar ds .Ont hedayoft hes or t i e,t hi swi l l bet ur nedi nt oaf ul l mi s s i onbr i eft hatwi l l t henbedel i ver edt ot hecr ewsi nvol ved i nt hef l i ght .T hecr ewswi l lt hens t ept o t he j et sand f l yt he mi s s i on. AsMaj or J ohn “Beer can”Col l i erex pl ai ns ,i ti s n’ t overt hen: “T he i ns t r uct orpi l oti sgoi ng t ot hr ow t hi ngsathi mt hathe di dn’ tant i ci pat e, t os eehow hecopeswi t ht hat .T hey’ l l comebackandwat cht het apeandan hourt oanhourandahal fl at er ,t heywi l l dot hedebr i ef .Al otoft i mest hatpar ti s key. T he upgr ade i snotoverunt i lt he debr i efi sover .T heguymi ghtpul lal ot ofl es s onsf r om i t . He mi ghtnothave donei tr i ghti nf l i ghtbutheunder s t ands bef or e we even get t ot he debr i ef ex act l ywhatwentwr ongandt hat ’ st he l evelwe want a guy at . Can he r ecogni s ewhathappenedi nt hes or t i e, how i tcanbef i x ed,andwegett hati n t hedebr i ef . ” T he upgr ade pr oces s esar e common acr os sdi f f er entuni t s .T her ef or e,att he end ofa pi l ot ’ st i meona uni t ,t heywi l l t aket hei rqual i f i cat i onst ot hei rnex tuni t pr ovi ded i ti san A10 s quadr on. T he di f f er ent s quadr ons have t hei r own f l avourbutar e ver ys i mi l ar . “T her ei sa l i t t l e bi t of a di f f er ent f eelt o each s quadr on butf ort he mos tpar ti ti sa nuance. We s t udy t he s ame t act i cs , and bymovi ng ever yt wo and hal ft o t hr ee year syouar e put t i ng new bl ood i n al lt he t i me f r om di f f er entl ocat i ons . I t ’ sr eal l ynott hatdi f f er ent . ”
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wi t ht heDavi sMont hanr unway ( Kar lDr age)
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Above-T hi s354t hF S“Bul l dogs ”pi l otwal ksoutt o f i nd hi sj etundert hei nval uabl eDavi s Mont han s uns hel t er s( RobEdgcumbe)
Beer can poi nt soutt hati ti sl i kel yt hatyou wi l l know pi l ot si nt heot heruni t s .“F r om whenyou s t ar tyourcar eeratt hes chool hous e,ofcour s e, youar eal l t oget her .Asyougr aduat easacl as s yougooutt odi f f er ents quadr onsandyous t ar t movi ngever yt woandahal ft ot hr eeyear s .You s t ar tr unni ngi nt opeopl eyoumetatt hes chool hous e oran i ns t r uct orwhen you wer e att he s choolhous e and now he i son mys quadr on. S omet i mes you wi l lmeet anot hers quadr on downr angeandyouwi l l haveanover l ap.I t ’ sa ver ys mal lcommuni t yand ver yt i ghtkni t .I t ’ s r ar et hatImeets omeonet hatIdon’ tknow. ”
As t unni ngvi ew off ourA10Csi nl i neas t er nf or mat i on ( Kevi nJ acks on)
A358t hF S“L obos ” ,355t hF W,A10C r ecover st oDavi sMont hanAF Bi ns t unni ngwi nt erl i ght( Kar lDr age
e)
Ol i verZ ar den
Above -T hi s104t hF S ,175t h Wg,Mar yl and ANGmar ked A10i spr ef l i ght checkedatDavi s Mont hanAF B( Kevi nJ acks on) T hecommuni cat i onbet weenuni t si sanongoi ng el ementofmaki ng t he A10 f or ce ef f ect i ve. T hi scan i nvol ve di s cus s i ng t act i csand weapons empl oymentwi t huni t st hatar edownr angeaheadofdepl oyment ,l ooki ng at upgr ades f orpubl i cat i ons ori nt r oduci ng new equi pment t ot he s quadr ons .WeaponsOf f i cer sont heuni t swi l l bei ncont actal ot .Ont op oft hati st he Hawgs moke ex er ci s e. “Hawgs moke i sanot herex ampl e of when ever yone can gett oget her . We can di s cus st act i csand whati s happeni ngdownr ange.Al l oft hes quadr onswi l l comei nf ort hat . � Bel ow -Oper at i onal t es tandeval uat i onofnew equi pmenti scar r i edoutby t heNel l i sAF B,NV,bas ed422ndT ES ,53r dT EG ( Kar lDr age)
Des pi t ei t sage,t he A10i ss t i l la ver yr el i abl ej et .T he bas i cai r f r amei ss t andi ngupwel l ,t hanksi npar tt os ome ongoi ngs t r uct ur al mai nt enanceandr epl acement .T he new capabi l i t i est hathave come wi t ht he Cmodel have i ncr eas ed per f or mance but al s o added compl ex i t y.“Wi t hal loft henew t hi ngswear eaddi ng t ot he j et s ,we ar ef i ndi ng new wayst o br eakt hi ngs . ” T hi shaschanged t het r ai ni ng appr oachaswel l . Wi t h t heabi l i t yt odel i verweaponsmor eaccur at el y,t her ei s al s ot heques t i onoft r ai ni ngf ordegr adedcapabi l i t i es . T hi si ss t i l lpar toft he s yl l abusbuthavi ng t he mos t accur at ecapabi l i t i esi sa neces s ar yi s s uei na moder n conf l i cts ochangi ngt oadi f f er entweaponi smor el i kel y t hatoper at i ngaweaponi nadegr adedmode. T he new capabi l i t i es t hatcame wi t ht he Cmodel upgr ade have pr ovi ded a bi g boos ti n capabi l i t y. Beer can f l ew t he Amodelbef or e a gr ound t ourand t hencamebackt ot heCmodel whenher et ur nedt oa s quadr on. He ant i ci pat ed t he conver s i ont o be mor e di f f i cul tt hani tact ual l ywasast henew s ys t emswer es o wel ldes i gned. I twascer t ai nl ya bi g change f oran ai r cr af tt hathasnotal waysbeen att he t op oft he upgr adepr i or i t yl i s t .“Yous how t heCmodelt oanol d A10guyand he s ays‘ Hol ys mokes ,youguyshave a movi ng map and a dat al i nk. Iwoul d neverhave i magi neds eei ngt hati nanA10. ’ ”
T heper f ectt ops i d
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Whyt heA10? S owhati si taboutt heA10t hatmakesi ts ouni quei nt heUS AFi nvent or y? Accor di ng t o Maj orBer naz z ani ,t heans weri ss i mpl e:I ti st hegun.“T hej et wasbui l tar oundt hegun.T heA10hast heabi l i t yt os t ayons t at i onf oraver y l ongt i me,anabi l i t ywhi chnoot herj ethas !I ti sver ybas i c,ver ys i mpl e,ver y s t abl eandeas yt of l y.Butbeyondt hat ,i t ’ sex t r emel ypot entandi ncr edi bl y ef f ect i ve. ” Wi t hnew capabi l i t i esl i keJ HMCSs t i l lt obef ul l yr ol l edoutanddepl oyment bei ng a r egul arf eat ur e ofA10oper at i ons ,i tappear st hatt he A10has pl ent yofl i f el ef ti ni tyet .Whet heri ti sal l owedt ous ei tr emai nst obes een.
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Ci ttàdi Mondovì 2014
XXVIRadunodel l ’ Epi f ani a
ni a
Es capi ngt hewi ndandr ai nofWal es ,Paul Dops on andHeavenCr awl eyt r avel t oNor t hWes tI t al yf or s ome f un compet i t i on bal l ooni ng att he 2014 Ephi panyMeethel di nMondovi .
M
ondovii saboutan hours out h ofT ur i n and hasbecome ours econd home;beaut i f ul s cener yi nt he s hadow oft he Al ps ,gr eat f ood, gr eat f r i ends and, mos ti mpor t ant l y, gr eat weat herf orbal l ooni ng!Wel ef thomeat0500onNew Year ’ sDay-noNew Yearcel ebr at i onsf orus-f ort he t hous and mi l ej our ney t ot ake par ti nt he Epi phany Meethel d on 5/ 6J anuar y.Dr i vi ng t hr ough t he Al ps andemer gi ngf r om t heF r ej usRoadT unnel i nt oI t al ywe wer e gr eet ed bys ome deep s now f al l .Hopef ul l yt hi s wasagoods i gn!T hepr evi ousyeart het emper at ur ei n Mondoviwasar ound 20degr eesCel s i us ;s omet hi ng mor e bef i t t i ng oft he f i r s tweekend ofJ anuar ywoul d bewel comedt hi syear . We ar r i ved t wo daysbef or et he meets o we coul d haveacoupl eoff unf l i ght s ,andt her ewasnos i gnof anys now i nMondovi .I nf actt heweat herwasagai n ver ymi l d.Bef or ef l yi ng we s poke t ot he l ocalpi l ot s , andt headvi cewasnott ogoof ft het ar macwi t ht he r et r i eve vehi cl e as t he gr ound was t oo wet .T he count r ys i de t ot he nor t h ofMondovii sver yf l atand open.T her ear ever yf ew hedgess epar at i ngt hef i el ds , unl i ket heUK,andt heyar eal l l i nkedbydi r tt r acks .T he t r acksar egr eatwheni t ’ sdr yasyoucannor mal l yget t ot he l anded bal l ooni nt he mi ddl e ofnowher e,but wi t hi tbei ngwett heonl yopt i onwast ol andonaqui et r oadorcer t ai nl yr i ghtnex tt oar oad. I twasa gr eyaf t er noon,butper f ect l yf l yabl e,f orour f i r s tf l i ghtal ongs i det woot herbal l oons .Unl i kei nt heUK wehavet of i l ea f l i ghtpl anf oranyf l i ghti nI t al y,and Mi l anAi rT r af f i ci snow ver yf ami l i arwi t husphoni ngup t of i l eourpl an.Wi t ht hef l i ghtpl anopenandbal l oon ai r bor newehavet or epor ti never y30mi nut est ot he l ocalAT C uni tatCuneo wi t h pos i t i on r epor t sand conf i r mat i ont hatf l i ghtoper at i onsar e nor mal .I twas cl eart os eeoncewehadgai nedhei ghtj us thow wet t hegr oundwas .I twasal mos tl i kef l yi ngbackhomei n Wal eswher ewewoul dneverf l yi ft hegr oundwasas wet .T het hi ngsyoudowhenyouhavet r avel l eds of ar ! An unevent f ulf l i ghtf ol l owed wi t ha l andi ng on t he edgeofagr as sf i el dwi t hat ar macr oadl eadi ngt oi t . Mor eevent f ul wast her et r i eve,ast hedr i vermi s s edt he t ur ni ng f ort he t ar mac and came acr os sa di r tt r ack. Yesyou gues s ed i t ,s t uck i nt he mud!L ucki l y wi t h wei ghtappl i ed i nt he r i ghtpl aceswe gott he L and Rovermovi ngandwer es ooncol l ect ed.
Mondovi abeaut i f ul s et t i ngt of l ybal l oo
Andr ew Hol l yi nt heGos s ar dr acerovert her ooft opsofMondovi .
l oons .
Mondovi t ownbel ow wi t hMondovi Pi az z aabover i ght .
Above -I nf l at i ng Asyoucans ee,Iw i tbei ng i nt he mi d es t at e!
Ri ght-T om Mi kl ous r acer ,r egi s t r at i on MontVi s obeyond
L ef t-Abeaut i f ul m Cl ockT oweratMo
atPar co Eur opa. Iwas n’ tl yi ngabout i ddl e ofa hous i ng
us i cf l yi nghi sZ agr eb i on 9AOGZ , wi t h d.
mor ni ngt of l yt ot he ondovi Pi az z a.
T he day bef or et he meeti tr ai ned nons t op,and f r om ourpr evi ous ex per i enceweknew wehad t obever ycar ef ulwher ewel anded and dr ove.Wewentt ot hepr eeventbr i ef i ng,andt hei s s ueswi t ht hegr ound condi t i onwer er ei t er at ed.Ever yonewast obever ycar ef ul andnotgoof f r oad.T heweat herf or ecas twasani mpr ovi ng pi ct ur e,al t hought hef i r s t f l i ghtwoul d have t o be cancel l ed due t ot he r ai n whi ch woul d pas s t hr ough,al l owi ng t he s econd f l i ght t o go ahead.S unday,and a l uncht i mebr i ef i ngconf i r med t hatt heaf t er noonf l i ghtwoul d goahead. T het akeof fs i t ewasPar coEur opai nt hecent r eofMondovi ,whi chwasi n par t sunderwat er .Vehi cl eswoul dhavet obepar kedar oundt heout s i de oft hegr as s edar eawi t hbal l oonsof f l oaded. Ar r i vi ng atPar co Eur opa we f ound al ls pacest aken,s o we wai t ed f or s omeonet ot akeof fbef or es et t i ngup.Wander i ngar oundonf ooti twas cl earj us thow wett he gr ound was .A f ew oft he UKpi l ot swai t i ng di d wonderwhywe wer e doi ng t hi s .We cer t ai nl ywoul dn’ tf l yathome i n t hes e condi t i ons .Wi t ha s pace avai l abl e we di d ourbes tt os etup t he bal l oonwi t houti tget t i ngt oomuddy,whi chwaspr et t yunavoi dabl e!T he t as kf ort hi sf l i ghtwast odr opamar keront oat ar getatt hebal l oonpor t , but ,wat chi ngt hos ebal l oonsal r eadyai r bor ne,i twascl eart hatt hewi nd wasi nt hewr ongdi r ect i on.Onceai r bor newes t ayedl ow abovet het own hopi ng t ot akeadvant ageofanys t r eetwi ndst hatmi ghtbear ound,a t act i c al s o empl oyed by cur r entUK Champi on Andr ew Hol l yi nt he Gos s ar dr acer .Butnomat t erhow muchwebot ht r i ed t hewi nd was n’ t t her es ot hi sf l i ghtt ur ned f r om compet i t i on i nt oas i ght s eei ng t ourof Mondovi .We l anded i na gr eatf i el d,whi chwasact ual l yr el at i vel ydr y andcl os et oar oad,andhadnopr obl emspacki ngupr eadyf ort henex t f l i ght .
Mondaymor ni ng wasbeaut i f ul ,per f ectf l yi ng condi t i ons and an over ni ght f r os t had har dened up t he gr ound,whi chwoul d make t hi ngsal oteas i er .Asnobodyhadgotcl os et o t he t ar geton t he pr evi ousf l i ght ,t he mor ni ng f l i ghtwoul d have t wo t ar get s :t he f i r s tbei ng t he hi ghl i ghtoft he meet ,t he Pi az z a Cl ock T ower Chal l enge, and a s econd t ar get beyond.T he Cl ockT oweri st he l andmar kof Mondoviand i sl ocat ed i nt he Pi az z a above t he mai nt own.I t ’ sa gr eatvant age poi ntt o s ee overMondoviand t he Al psbeyond and al s omakesaver ydi f f i cul tt ar getf orbal l ooni s t s . If l ew t hi st as kt hepr evi ousyearandmi s s edby a mi l e,s of art hatIdi dn’ teven t hr ow t he mar ker ,s oHeavenwoul dbef l yi ngt hi syear . Wear r i vedatPar coEur opat of i ndt hatt hef r os t wass t i l li nt hegr ounds ower eabl et odr i veon and gets etup.I t ’ sal wayswor t h wat chi ng a f ew bal l oonst akeof faheadofyout os eewhat t he wi nd i s doi ng as t hi s wi l lgi ve a good i ndi cat i on oft he cour s e you wi l lneed t of l y. Wi t ht hi sdoneHeavenand f r i endst ookt ot he s kywhi l s tIt ooks omepi ct ur esf r om t hegr ound. Il ove f l yi ng and al s o wat chi ng compet i t i on f l i ght s ;s eei ng t he pi l ot sgo up and down at s peedt of i ndj us tt her i ghtwi ndt ot aket hem t o t he t ar get i s al ways i nt er es t i ng. F r om my vant age poi nton t he gr ound i tl ooked as t hough Heaven was i n wi t h a ver y good chanceofget t i ngt ot het ar get ,but ,checki ng ont he t wowayr adi o,t he mar kerf el ls hor tof t he t owerand dr opped down t he s i de of Pi az z a. Cl os e and much bet t er t han my at t empt t he pr evi ous year ,t hough. On s ubs equentvi ewi ng oft he GoPr of oot age i t became cl eart hati ft he mar kerhad been t hr ownj us tat adl at ert hani twasas cor emi ght havebeenpos s i bl e.T hes econd t ar getwasi n t heoppos i t edi r ect i onandwi t ht hewi ndsver y l i ghtand var i abl ei tpr oved ver yt r i ckyt o get t her e.I nf actt hos et hatmi s s edt heCl ockT ower wer et heonl yonest hatdi dr eacht hes econd t ar get ,wi t h Andr ew Hol l yget t i ng a di r ecthi t . Heaven and f r i endscont i nued f l yi ng f orf un and,af t ernear l yt wohour s ,l andedont opofa r i dgewi t hgr eatacces sf ormet opi ckt hem up.
Al t houghnotpar toft hemeeti twasgr eatt os e t hi shotai rai r s hi pj oi ni nt hef un.
s ee
RoddyBakeraboutt ol aunchi npur s ui toft heCl ockT owerChal l enge.
Per f ectf l yi ngcondi t i ons .
Abi r d’ seyevi ew oft hel aunchs i t ePar coEur opa i nt hecent r eofMondovi .
S hawnMacki ngaf l yi nghi sT hunder& Col toverMondovi Pi az z a.
Backt ot he bal l oon por tf orgasand l unch i n pr epar at i onf ort hes econd f l i ghtoft hedayand f i nal f l i ghtoft hemeet .T hel as tf l i ghtwoul dagai n bef r om Par coEur opa,andeventor gani z erPaol o Oggi anidecl ar ed t hati twoul d be a ‘ har e and hounds ’t as k.Hewoul dt akeof fi nhi sbal l oon,f l y away t hen l and and s etoutt he t ar getcr os s bef or ef l yi ngon.T he“hounds ”woul dhavet owai t f i vemi nut esbef or eget t i ngai r bor ne.AsPaol ogot ai r bor ne t he r emai ni ng bal l oonsmade a gr eat s i ghtal li nf l at ed i nt hepar k.T hef l i ghtwoul ds ee mes uper vi s i ngapi l otundert r ai ni ng.I woul dhave over al lcont r oland be l ookoutwi t h25bal l oons ar oundus ,whi l s tL aur a,t hes t udent ,woul df l y.T he wi ndswer e agai n ver yl i ghtand var i abl e,and af t ert enmi nut esPaol owass t i l l di r ect l yabovet he l aunchf i el d.J us tashe s t ar t ed t o dr i f tawaywe deci dedi twasbet t ert obeoneoft hef i r s taway t oavoi damas sl aunchwi t ht heot herbal l oons . Icar r i ed outt he i ni t i alt akeof f ,handi ng overt o L aur a ass oon aswe wer e cl earoft he ot her bal l oons .Ourf l i ghtpat hneededt of ol l ow Paol o’ s ex act l y:wehadt hebes tvant agepoi ntandwer e at t he f r ont of t he pack. Wat chi ng Paol o’ s bal l ooncl os el yf ordi r ect i onandal t i t udechanges we t r i ed t or ecr eat e hi sf l i ght .Wi t hL aur af ul lof conf i dence wi t ht he abi l i t yt o keep Paol oi n check,It ur ned t ol ookoutand phot ogr apher . Al t hough If l ya l otofbal l oonsIr ar el y gett he chance t ot ake pi ct ur eswi t ha pr opercamer a, nor mal l yaspi l otI gr abt heoddi Phones hot ,s ot hi s wasawel comechange.Wi t ht hepackcl os i ngi n on usi twascl eart os ee t hatt her es ome ver y compet i t i ve pi l ot soutt her e.Whi l s twe t r acked Paol o,r emai ni ngataf ai r l ycons t anthei ght ,t hos e cat chi ng up cl i mbed and des cended ats peed t ot r yand f i nd j us tt her i ghtdi r ect i onand s peed f ort he pur s ui t .Athi gherl evel st he wi nd s peed wasf as t er ,s o we woul ds ee bal l oonscl i mb up behi nd us ,f l y overus ,bef or e des cendi ng at s peed i nf r ontofus .A r ealt or t oi s e and har e s cenar i o,f orwhi ch we had t o keep oureyes open.F r om ourvant age poi nti nt he bas keti t ’ s i mpos s i bl et os ee what ’ sabove uss o ourt r us ti s wi t ht he pi l otdes cendi ng.Equal l yi fa bal l ooni s bel ow usands t ar t st ocl i mbwehavet ocl i mbt o al l ow s af ecl ear ancebecaus et heycan’ ts eeus , butwecans eet hem.
Pi l ot sl ooki ngf orwi ndandpos i t i ondur i ngt h
t he‘ har eandhounds ’ .
Mondayaf t er noonl aunchf r om Par coEur opa.
‘ X’mar kst hes cor i ngt ar get .
L ooki ngdownonDavi dHochr eut ner ' sUl t r amagi c.
Wi t hbal l oonsgoi ngupanddownar oundus ,i tcanbequi t econf us i ngas t owhatourbal l ooni sdoi ng.Whenagr oupofbal l oonsdes cendsar ound usi tcan s eem t hatwe ar et he onesmovi ng and we woul d gett he i mpr es s i onofcl i mbi ngevent houghwewer el evel .S omegr eatf l yi ngby L aur akeptusont r ack,andwes aw Paol odes cend,l andandl ayoutt he cr os s .AsPaol odes cended wenot i ced how t hewi ndschanged s ot hat above hous e hei ghthe wascomi ng backt owar dsus ,and t hen,bel ow hous ehei ght ,hewasgoi ngt oourl ef t .Aqui ckdi s cus s i onandweagr eed t of l yonatt hes amehei ghtbef or edr oppi ngdownt o200f tandhopef ul l y get t i nga s i ngl es wi ngofdi r ect i on.Wi t ht het ar getvi s i bl e,ot herbal l oons wer edr oppi ngbehi ndusandwer eal lmi s s i ngt het ar getbynott aki ngi n t oaccountt hedi r ect i onchanges .I deci dedt ol etL aur af l yt heappr oach andIwoul dt hr ow t hemar ker .
Above - Appr oac f r om di f f er enthei g
Ri ght-Mi r koMar an Ul t r amagi c.
L ef t- Bal l oons an per f ectcombi nat i o
T op l ef t - Andr e ai r bor nei nt heGo
achi ng t he t ar get i ght sanddi r ect i ons .
angoni ' sver ypr et t y
and Mondovi :t he t i on.
r ew Hol l y get t i ng os s ar d.
Opi Hochr eut nerr eadyt odr o
Aswe des cended t he wi nd s t ar t ed t ot ur n us , weneededar el at i vel ys t eepdes centt oavoi d get t i ngt akenof ft ar getand,aswer oundedout at200f tabove t he gr ound,we wer e pr et t y muchs potonwi t hourt r ack.A f ew cor r ect i ons andas t eadyhandf r om L aur ahadusovert he t ar get ,a qui cks houtt o war nt hos e bel ow of
whatwascomi ng,and Il i t er al l ydr opped t he makeroutofmyhand,not hr ow needed.S adl y s omedr i f tt ookt hemar kerawayf r om t hecent r e oft het ar getbutaver ycr edi bl ef i f t hpl acewas achi evedwi t honehappys t udent .Wecl i mbed awayf r om t he t ar get ,now t i me t of i nd s ome wi ndandal andi ngs pot .
r ophi smar keront het ar get .
We cr es t ed overa r i dge and dr opped i nt oa s mal lval l eywher et her eappear edt obes ome goodf i el dst ol and.T hel i ghtandvar i abl ewi nd wasback,andever yt i mewemadeades cent f orl andi ng t he wi nd woul dj us tt ake usaway overt r eesorhous esf r om ouri nt ended l andi ng s pot .Icoul ds eeaf i el daheads or et ookcont r ol
T went ybal l oonsi nt hes kyoverMondovi .
oft he bur nerf r om L aur a and car r i ed outa des centi nt oi t .T hef i el dhadgoodr oadacces s butwast hewet t es toneoft heweekendt ol and i n!Wi t hs omemanhandl i ngwegott hebal l oon ascl os et ot her oad bef or edef l at i ng i t ,whi l s tI waswar ni ng ot herpi l ot st hatwer el ooki ng t o l andi ni tt os t ayaway.
S o,wi t ht hat ,t he2014eventcamet oacl os e.Att hegal adi nnerwef oundoutt hatwehad f i ni s hed i n9t hpl ace over al l ,a good ef f or tcons i der i ng onl yone act uals cor i ng t as kwas achi eved byourt eam and ani mpr ovementont he pr evi ousyear . Her e’ st o 2015and anot heri mpr ovementup t he l eader boar d!Asal waysourt hankst o ever yone att he Mondovi Aer ocl ubf ort hei rhar dwor ki nor gani s i ngt heMeet .
T op l ef t-T he Al ps and gi ve us condi t i onsi nwhi ch
T op r i ght-F el l ow B cour s ef ort heCl oc
Ri ght-MontVi s o,t t he Par amountM t hes kyl i ne.
L ef t-L ocal he Camer on.
pspr ot ectMondovi t hes e wonder f ul cht of l y.
Br i tI anS har pe on ockT ower .
,t hemount ai nf r om Movi es ,domi nat es
er o Boba i n hi s
T he 2015 eventwi l lbe hel d on 5/ 6J anuar y,al t hough we can’ t pr omi s es now i t ’ sourf avour i t eeventoft hes eas onandi swel lwor t h avi s i t .
F
I GHT I NG AL C ONa t 4 0
T heL ockheedMar t i n( Gener alDynami cs )F 16F i ght i ng F al coni sof t ent houghtofast hequi nt es s ent i al f i ght erof t hel at e20t hcent ur y,buti nf acti ti saf armor ever s at i l e and capabl e ai r cr af tt hant hat .PaulDunnl ooksat40 year soft hi subi qui t ousmul t i r ol ef i ght erai r cr af t .
Royal Net her l andsAi rF or ceF 16AM,J 367,s por t i ngas peci al t ai l cel ebr at i ngt he60t h Anni ver s ar yof311S quadr on ( F r ankGr eal i s h)
Backgr ound Dur i ngt hel at e1960s ,t het r endi nf i ght erdes i gn wasf oreverl ar gerand heavi eri nt er cept or s , f i t t ed wi t h power f ul r adar and l ongr ange mi s s i l es ,abl et os hootdownenemyai r cr af tl ong bef or et heycame i nt o vi s ualr ange.I nt he US , t he McDonnel lDougl as F 4 Phant om I Ihad ent er ed s er vi ce wi t ht he USNavyand Mar i ne Cor psand al s ot he US AF asa f i ght er ;ear l y ver s i onswer e noteven f i t t ed wi t h an i nt er nal cannonar mament ,asi twasf el tt hatt heer aof t he' dogf i ght ' waswel l andt r ul yover . Ex per i ence i nt he s ki esoverVi et nam s howed t hatt hi st heor ywasdeepl yf l awed.Amer i can pi l ot swer eboundbys t r i ctr ul esofengagement , whi ch r equi r ed t hem t o vi s ual l yi dent i f yhos t i l e ai r cr af tbef or e openi ng f i r e.T hi sr equi r ement negat edt headvant ageofbeyondvi s ual r ange ( BVR)weapons ,whi ch wer e of t en i mmat ur e and unr el i abl e anyway,and meantt hatpi l ot s coul df i nd t hems el vesi n cl os e quar t er s ,vi s ual f i ght s wi t h s mal l and manoeuvr abl e Nor t h Vi et names ej et ss uchast heMi G17.T hedemi s e of t he dogf i ght had been s omewhat over s t at ed. T he F 4 was ,ofcour s e,a s uper b ai r cr af tand s er vedt heUSf or ceswi t hdi s t i nct i on,buti twasa l ar ge and heavy machi ne whi ch was not par t i cul ar l yni mbl eandi l l s ui t edt ot hi st ypeofai r war f ar e.I naddi t i on,f ort hemos tpar t ,USpi l ot s wer e notgi ven appr opr i at et r ai ni ng i n vi s ual f i ght i ng,and t hi si ni t i al l yr es ul t ed i nwor s et han ex pect ed l os s es .Wi t h bot ht he Ai rF or ce and Navyant i ci pat i ng t he ent r yi nt os er vi ce oft he F 111asani nt er cept or ,t het r end ofl ar geand cumber s ome f i ght er sl ooked l i ke i t woul d cont i nuei nt ot he1970s ,al t houghi nt heendt he F 111 nevers ucceeded i nt he f i ght err ol ei n whi chi thadbeenenvi s aged. Ri ght-T wot ypest hatwer eoncecons i der edt o beadver s ar i es-atl eas ti ns omequar t er s-s een oper at i ng t oget heri nt he s ame pi ece ofs ky above Nevada. T hi ss hotal s o emphas i s est he s i z e di f f er ent i albet ween t he much l ar gerF 15 andt heF 16 ( PaulF i l mer )
Devel opmentef f or t si nt hemi d1960sf ocus ed ont heF X( F i ght erEx per i ment al )s t udy,whi ch event ual l yr es ul t edi nt heF 15Eagl e.Al t hough al ar ge and compl i cat ed ai r cr af t ,t he F 15 devel oped i nt o an ex cel l entai r s uper i or i t y f i ght erwhi ch cont i nuest os er ve t he US AFi n s ubs t ant i alnumber s .However ,att het i meof i t s devel opment , not ever yone was convi nced t hatt he F Xpr ogr amme wast he way f or war d.A par t i cul ar l y vocalgr oup of cr i t i csbecame known ast he ' f i ght ermaf i a' . T he mai nf i gur ei nt he gr oup wasColJ ohn Boyd,an ex per i enced f i ght erpi l otwho had f oughti nt heKor eanWar .T hegr oupf el tt hat as mal l er ,l i ght wei ghtf i ght erwasa bet t er pr os pectt hant heheavyF Xpr opos al . T he US AF had al r eady s t udi ed a s i mi l ar pr opos alf ora l owcos t ,l i ght wei ghtf i ght er under t he ADF ( Advanced Day F i ght er ) pr ogr amme whi ch was i ni t i at ed i n 1965. Oppos i t i on t ot he conceptmeantt hatt he pr oj ectneveramount ed t o anyt hi ng,and pr i or i t ywasgi vent ot hemor e' ex ci t i ng'( and i ndeedex pens i ve)F Xpr ogr amme.However , t he' f i ght ermaf i a'wer eani ncr eas i ngl yvocal and i nf l uent i algr oup and i n 1969 s ecur ed f undi ng f orGener alDynami csand Nor t hr op t o ef f ect i vel yr evi s i tt he ADFconcept ,under t hedes i gnat i onF XX. T her ewaspl ent yofhos t i l i t yt ot henew ai r cr af t amongs tt heUS AFl eader s hi p,whoper cei ved t hati tcoul d bea t hr eatt ot hepr ocur ement oft hei rdes i r ed quant i t i esofF 15s ,butt her e wass ome ci vi l i an pol i t i cals uppor tf ort he i dea, not abl y f r om Deput y S ecr et ar y of Def ens e Davi d Packar d.By 1971,t he s t udy had evol ved i nt ot he L i ghtWei ghtF i ght er ( L WF )pr oj ect ,t owhi chf undswer eal l ocat ed t o al l ow bot h Gener al Dynami cs and Nor t hr op t o pr oduce a pai rofpr ot ot ype f i ght er s each, whi ch woul d t hen be eval uat edal ongs i deoneanot her ,undert he conceptofcompet i t i ve pr ot ot ypi ng.Att hi s s t age,however ,t her ewer enoguar ant eesof f ol l ow onor der sf r om t heUS AForanyoneel s e.
YF 16&YF 17 T het wonew ai r cr af tt ypeswer egi vent he des i gnat i ons YF 16 ( Gener al Dynami cs ) and YF 17 ( Nor t hr op) .T he f i r s tYF 16 was r ol l ed out f r om Gener alDynami cs 'F or t Wor t h f act or y on 13 December 1973, bef or e bei ng s hi pped t o Edwar ds AF B aboar daC5Gal ax y,t obegi ni t sf l i ghtt es t pr ogr amme.T hef i r s tf l i ghtoft hepr ot ot ype occur r ed s omewhatear l i ert han pl anned; on20J anuar y1974,t es tpi l otPhi l Oes t r i cher wascar r yi ng outhi gh s peed t ax it es t son t heEdwar dsAF Br unwaywhent heai r cr af t began vi ol ent l at er alos ci l l at i ons whi ch t hr eat enedt ocaus ei tt odevi at ef r om t he r unway, wi t h t he pot ent i al f or s er i ous damage.T oavoi dt hi s ,Oes t r i cherel ect ed t o getai r bor ne,f l ya ci r cui toft he ai r f i el d and t hen l and t he ai r cr af ti n a mor e cont r ol l edmanner .Hi scour s eofact i onwas s ucces s f ul ,wi t ht hepr ot ot ypes uf f er i ngonl y mi nordamage f r om t he i nci dent ;i twas r epai r edi nt i mef ori t sof f i ci alf i r s tf l i ghton2 F ebr uar y1974.T he r i valYF 17t ookt ot he s ki es i nJ une 1974, wi t ht he f l i ght t es t pr ogr amme f or bot h t ypes cont i nui ng t hr oughoutt heyear . Dur i ng t he ear l y par t of 1974, t he Depar t mentofDef ens e began t ot ake a mor e keen i nt er es ti nt he L WF cont es t , cul mi nat i ngi nApr i l 1974,whenS ecr et ar yof Def ens eJ amesS chl es i ngeri ndi cat ed t hat t he acqui s i t i on ofa s i z eabl e numberof L WF bas edai r cr af twasl i kel y.T her ewass t i l l oppos i t i on f r om t he US AFt ot hi spot ent i al or der ,wi t hs eni orof f i cer ss t i l ls us pect i ng t hatdel i ver i esoft heL WFwoul dbei npl ace ofs ome oft he F 15st hatt he s er vi ce had pl anned t or ecei ve.I nt he end,t hough, much of t he r es i s t ance f r om t he US AF hi er ar chy was as s uaged when a hi ghcos t / l owcos t f or ce mi x was s ugges t ed.Undert hi si dea,t he Ai rF or ce woul dgeti t spl annednumberofF 15s ,wi t h t he s ucces s f ulL WF bei ng or der ed i nt o pr oduct i on i n addi t i on, under t he Ai r CombatF i ght er( ACF )pr ogr amme.
Above-721568wast hes econdYF 16t obepr oduc 1974.I thadas hor tbutevent f ulcar eerwi t hnos el e bef or ebel l yl andi ngatCar s wel l ,T X,ayearl at eraf t e t heex ecut i onofamax r at er ol l dur i ngunder car r i ag
Bel ow -T woNor t hr opYF 17swer epr oducedf ort he t heYF 16.Bot hYF 17ss ur vi ve,t hi sonei snow di s pl aye Cal i f or ni a( PaulDunn)
uced,t aki ngt ot hes ki esf ort hef i r s tt i meon9May l egex t ens i oni s s uesonbot hofi t sf i r s tt wof l i ght s t ert her i ghtmai nl andi nggearj ammedf ol l owi ng ger et r act i on ( L i nds ayPeacock)
eACFcompet i t i on,wi t ht hedes i gnl os i ngoutt o yedatt heWes t er nMus eum ofF l i ghtatT or r ance,
Wi t ht he i ni t i alpl an f ort he ACFt o equi pf i ve US AFT act i calF i ght erWi ngs( at ot alofar ound 400ai r cr af t ) ,t hes t akesf ort hecont es tbegant o r i s e.I nt er es t i ngl y,t hepl anf ort heACFdel i ver i es wast or epl aceF 105andF 4f i ght er bomber si n t he US AF ,r at her t han pur e f i ght er ai r cr af t , i ndi cat i ngt hatt heai r cr af twasex pect edt obe much mor e ofa mul t i r ol e machi ne t han t he or i gi nal L WFconcept .I tal s obecamecl eart hat t het wocompet i ngcompani eswer epot ent i al l y vyi ng f orcons i der abl y mor et han a pot ent i al US AFor der ,l ar geast hi sor dermi ghtbe. I nEur opei nt heear l y1970s ,a gr oup off ourai r ar ms cons i s t i ng ofBel gi um,t he Net her l ands , Denmar k and Nor way had been s t udyi ng r epl acement s f or t hei r agei ng f l eet s of L ockheed F 104S t ar f i ght er s .I nt heear l ypar tof 1974, t hi s pr oces s was f or mal i s ed wi t h t he f or mat i on oft he Mul t i nat i onalF i ght erPr ogr am Gr oup ( MF PG) .T her e wer ei ndi cat i ons t hat , s houl dt he US AFor dera s ubs t ant i alnumberof ACF s ,t henew t ypewoul dbei nas t r ongpos i t i on t of ul f i lt heEur opeanr equi r ementwhi chwoul d r es ul ti nover300ai r cr af tbei ngor der ed.T heACF was up agai ns t der i vat i ves of t he Das s aul t Br eguetMi r age F 1,S EPECAT J aguar andS AABVi ggen,al ongwi t ht heNor t hr opP530 Cobr a,apl annedder i vat i veoft heYF 17. F l i ghtt es t i ngoft heACFt ookpl aceatEdwar ds AF Bovert hes ummerof1974,and i ncl uded ai r combats or t i esagai ns tUS AF t ypes ,and al s o cover t l yacqui r edMi G17sandMi G21sf r om t he 4477t hT ES .I tbecame appar entt hatt he YF 16 wast hes uper i orai r cr af ti nmos tr es pect s ,andi t wasal s os l i ght l y cheaper ,s oi tcame asl i t t l e s ur pr i s ei nJ anuar y 1975,when t he YF 16 was announced ast he chos en ai r cr af tt of ul f i lt he ACFr equi r ement ,wi t hpot ent i alor der sr i s i ng t o ar ound650ai r cr af tf ort heUS AF .L at ert hatyear , des pi t es t r ongoppos i t i onf r om Eur opeanai r cr af t manuf act ur er s ,t he YF 16wass el ect ed t of ul f i l t heMF PG r equi r ement ;t heannouncementwas madeatt hePar i sAi rS how,wher et heYF 16was maki ngi t sEur opeandebut .
750750,wasanF 16Aus edf oravi o ai r cr af ts eenatRAFAl conbur yi nM
T hePr oduct i onF 16 Wi t har ound1000pot ent i al or der sont het abl e,Gener al Dynami cs began t he pr oces s of devel opi ng t he pr oduct i onF 16f r om t heYF 16demons t r at or .T hei ni t i al or dercover ed a bat chof15devel opmentai r cr af t( 11 s i ngl es eatF 16Asand f ourt wos eatF 16Bs ) ,al t hough t hi swasl at err educed t o ei ght( s i xF 16Asand t wo F 16Bs ) .T he i ni t i alpr oduct i on ver s i on f eat ur ed s ome s i gni f i cantdi f f er encesf r om t heYF 16,wi t hal engt hened f us el age and l ar gerr adome f ort he AN/ APG66r adar , i ncr eas ed wi ng ar ea,l ar gerhor i z ont als t abi l i s er sand ot her ,s mal l ermodi f i cat i ons .T hes e changesi ncr eas ed t hewei ghtoft hef i ght erby25% whencompar edt ot he YF 16. T he f i r s toft hes eF ul lS cal e Devel opment( F S D)ai r cr af t wasr ol l edoutoft hef act or yatF or tWor t hon20Oct ober 1976,and madei t sf i r s tf l i ghti nDecemberoft hes ame year .Byt hemi ddl eof1978,al lei ghtF S D ai r f r ameshad beendel i ver ed t ot heAi rF or ceF l i ghtT es tCent er ' sF 16 J oi ntT es tF or ce( J T F )atEdwar dsAF Bf oreval uat i onand t es t i ng. Unus ual l y, t he J T F t es t pi l ot s i ncl uded r epr es ent at i vesf r om notonl yGener al Dynami csandt he US AF ,butal s of r om t he Eur opean nat i onswho had commi t t edt obuyi ngt henew j et ,bynow r ef er r edt oas t heEur opeanPar t i ci pat i ngAi rF or ces( EPAF ) .Par toft he devel opmentpr oces si ncl uded weaponsand avi oni cs s ys t emsi nt egr at i on;t he F 16wast o be acqui r ed asa mul t i r ol eai r cr af t ,pr i mar i l yf orus ei nat t ackmi s s i ons ,s o t her ewer epl ent yofai r t ogr oundweaponst oi nt egr at e, i naddi t i ont ot es tf i r i ngsofai r t oai rmi s s i l es . Whi l eGener al Dynami csi nF or tWor t hwasgear i ngupf or s er i espr oduct i on oft he F 16,f act or i esi n Eur ope wer e pr epar i ng t o do t he s ame.Undert he t er ms oft he agr eementwi t ht heEPAFnat i ons ,t hei rF 16swer et obe as s embl edatt wol ocat i onsi nEur ope,wi t has ubs t ant i al amountofpar t sbei ngmanuf act ur edl ocal l yt oo.Ast he l ar ges toft heor i gi nal cus t omer s ,i tf el l t oBel gi um andt he Net her l andst o as s embl et he new f i ght er s .T he chos en f aci l i t i es wer e F okker ' s pl ant at S chi phol Oos t ( Net her l ands )andS ABCA' sGos s el l i esf act or y( Bel gi um) , wi t hs mal l erpar t sf abr i cat ed i n Denmar kand Nor way. F okkerwaspr i mar i l yr es pons i bl ef orbui l di ngj et sdes t i ned f ort he RoyalNet her l ands Ai rF or ce and t he Royal Nor wegi anAi rF or ce,wi t hS ABCA t ur ni ngoutai r cr af tf or t heBel gi anAi rF or ceandRoyal Dani s hAi rF or ce.
F 16B750752wast hel as toft heF S D i ncl udi ngengi nedevel opmentan t heF r ont i er sofF l i ghtMus eum,Dal l
vi oni css ys t em t es t i ngandr el i abi l i t yandmai nt ai nabi l i t yt es t sbyt he6516t hT es tS quadr on.Oneoft hr ee May1979whi l s tembar ki ngonaEur opeant our( L i nds ayPeacock)
S Dbat ch,andwasus edbyGener al Dynami cs( l at erL ockheedMar t i n)f oravar i et yoft es tpr ogr ammes , ndcl os eai rs uppor tt es t i ng,f orwhi chi tr ecei ved" Eur opeanOne"s t yl ecamouf l age.Now pr es er vedat l l as ,T X( PaulDunn)
F 16A780001 T hef i r s tpr oduct i ons t andar dF 16,780001,made i t sf i r s tf l i ghton7Augus t1978,andwasaccept ed byt he US AFi nJ anuar yt he f ol l owi ng year .I ni t i al del i ver i est ot heUS AFwer et ot he388t hT F W atHi l l AF B,UT ,wi t ht he34t hT F Sbecomi ngoper at i onal on 1 Oct ober1980.Ear l i eri nt he year ,t he ai r cr af t r ecei ved i t sof f i ci alname,t he F i ght i ng F al con. Dur i ng i t scar eer ,t he F 16 hasr ecei ved s ever al ot herni cknames ,s omemor ecompl i ment ar yt han ot her s ,butF i ght i ng F al con r emai nst he of f i ci al moni ker , r at her t han ' Vi per ' , al t hough t hi s ni ckname has pr oved endur i ngl y popul ar , es peci al l yamongs tt hepi l otcommuni t y. T henew ai r cr af twasver ydi f f er entt ot hos eai r cr af t whi chi tr epl acedandi ncor por at eds ever alnovel f eat ur es ,notl eas tofwhi ch wer ei nt he cockpi t . T he pi l ot ' ss eatwasr ecl i ned at30degr eesi n an at t emptt or educet heef f ect sofG ont hebody. T he ai r cr af tal s of eat ur ed a s i de s t i ck cont r ol l er r at her t han t he mor e convent i onal cent r al l y mount ed cont r ols t i ck. T he F 16 was t he f i r s t pr oduct i on f i ght ert o be des i gned t o be s l i ght l y uns t abl e,i nor dert oenhancemanoeuvr abi l i t y;t o count er t hi s i ns t abi l i t y, t he F 16 r equi r es a f l ybywi r e( F BW)cont r ol s ys t em.
Eur opeanPr oduct i on I nEur ope,t hef i r s tl ocal l ybui l tai r cr af tt of l ywasan F 16B( F B01)f ort he Bel gi anAi rF or ce,whi chgot ai r bor ne f ort he f i r s tt i me on 11December1978, and wasdel i ver ed i nJ anuar yt he f ol l owi ng year . T he f i r s tBel gi anbui l tai r cr af tf orDenmar k was handed over i n J anuar y 1980. I n Hol l and meanwhi l e,t hef i r s tF okkerbui l tex ampl ef l ew on3 May 1979, and was del i ver ed t o t he Royal Net her l andsAi rF or ce j us tovera mont hl at er .I n common wi t h Denmar k,Nor wayr ecei ved i t sf i r s t ai r cr af ti nJ anuar y1980.T het woor i gi nal Eur opean pr oduct i onl i neswentont oas s embl eat ot al of518 ai r cr af t ,s pl i tbet ween S ABCA ( 222)and F okker ( 296) .T hi sf i gur et akes i nt o accountf ol l ow on or der sand al s oa s mal lnumberofai r cr af tbui l ti n Eur ope f ort he US AF( S ABCA,4xF 16B;F okker ,2x F 16A) ,pl usas i ngl eBmodelas s embl edbyF okker ands uppl i edt ot heEgypt i anAi rF or ce.
Above-780001,t hef i r s tpr oduct i onF 16A,s ee i nJ anuar y1983 ( Gener alDynami cs )
Bel ow -F B01,t hef i r s tF 16pr oducedi nEur ope ( L i nds ayPeacock)
eenher ecar r yi nganAI M9JS i dewi nderai r t oai rmi s s i l e
et of l y,s eenher eont her ampatCambr ai i nJ ul y1979
Ot herExpor tOr der s Whi l eEur opeanpr oduct i onaccount edf or as i z eabl et ot al ofai r cr af t ,t hevas tmaj or i t y ofA/ Bmodel swer ebui l tatF or tWor t hand s uppl i edt ot heUS AF .However ,t heai r cr af t was at t r act i ng s i gni f i cant i nt er es tf r om over s easnat i onsnotpar toft he or i gi nal EPAFgr oup.T hef i r s ts uchcus t omert oor der t heai r cr af twasI r an,r at hers ur pr i s i nggi ven t he cur r entt ens i on bet ween t he I r ani an r egi me and t he US .However ,i n1976,t he S hahwasi npowerandI r anwasakeyal l y oft he Uni t ed S t at es ,and a cus t omerf or mi l i t ar yhar dwar ei ncl udi ngai r cr af ts uchas t he F 4 and F 14.An i ni t i albat ch of160 ai r cr af twer eor der ed,wi t ht hepot ent i al f or as i z eabl ef ol l ow on or der ,butt he 1978 I r ani anr evol ut i onmeantt hatt heor derwas t hr owni nt odoubt ,andt hencancel l ed. Byt hatt i me,however ,Gener alDynami cs had won s ever alot herex por tcus t omer s , i ncl udi ng I s r ael . Rat her i r oni cal l y, gi ven event soverr ecentyear s ,t he l os soft he I r ani anor dermeantt hatI s r aelr ecei vedi t s j et ss omewhats oonert han i twoul d have ot her wi s e done. T he i ni t i al I s r ael i r equi r ementwasf or75A/ Bmodelai r cr af t , t hes t ar tofal ongr el at i ons hi pbet weent he I s r ael iAi rF or ce and t he F 16;af t ert he Uni t ed S t at es ,I s r aelwas t o go on t o become t he l ar ges t oper at or of t he ai r cr af t .
F i r s tAi r t oAi rVi ct or y I s r ael hadt hedi s t i nct i onofbei ngt hef i r s tai r ar mt ous et heF 16oncombatoper at i ons . T he f i r s tai r t oai rvi ct or yt o be cr edi t ed t o an F 16wasa S yr i an Mi 8hel i copt er ,s hot down on 28 Apr i l1981 overt he Bekaa Val l ey;i nJ ul yt hes ameyear ,anI DF / AFF 16 s ucces s f ul l yengagedaS yr i anMi G21wi t h an AAM,s cor i ng t he ai r cr af t ' sf i r s tvi ct or y overan enemy f i ght er .T he I s r ael i swer e al s ot he f i r s tt o us et he ai r cr af tona s t r i ke mi s s i on, dur i ng t he not or i ous Oper at i on Oper a.
On7J une 1981,a s t r i ke package cons i s t i ng ofei ght F 16Ass uppor t ed bys i xF 15Asl aunched f r om I s r ael i ai r f i el dsi nor dert o at t ackt he Os i r aknucl earr eact or undercons t r uct i on atAlT uwai t ha,j us ts out heas tof Baghdad,I r aq.I twas s us pect ed t hatt he r eact or woul d be us ed f orpr oduci ng mat er i alf oran I r aqi nucl ear war head, s omet hi ng t hat I s r aelwas not pr epar edt oal l ow t ohappen.T heF 16seachdr opped apai rofMk842000l bbombswhi chwer er el eas edover t he t ar getand caus ed s i gni f i cantdamage t ot he f aci l i t y.Att het i met her ai d wascont r over s i al ,buti ti s now cons i der edt hatt hes ucces s f ulcompl et i onoft he mi s s i onputbackI r aqinucl earcapabi l i t i esbyatl eas t t enyear s . I n 1982,i nr es pons et o at t acks f r om t he Pal es t i ne L i ber at i on Or gani s at i on ( PL O) ,t he I DF l aunched Oper at i onPeaceF orGal i l ee,and i nvaded L ebanon, l eadi ng t o maj oraer i alconf r ont at i onswi t ht he S yr i an Ai rF or ce.Overt he cour s e ofa f ew daysofcombat overt heBekaaVal l ey,I s r ael i F 16saccount edf orover 40 S yr i an ai r cr af t ,mai nl y made up ofMi G21sand Mi G23s ,f or no l os s es of t hei r own. T hi s was a r emar kabl e demons t r at i on oft he s uper i or i t yofI s r ael i t act i csand t r ai ni ng,and al s ot he capabi l i t i esoft he F i ght i ngF al con, orNet z( Hawk) , ast heF 16A/ Bi sknown i nI s r ael i s er vi ce( abover i ght ) . F ur t herear l ycus t omer sf ort heF 16A/ Bi ncl udedEgypt , Paki s t an,Venez uel a( f arr i ght ) ,T hai l and,S i ngapor e and I ndones i a.Many oft hes e or der swer ef orf ai r l y s mal lbat ches ,butmos toft he cus t omer swentont o pur chas el ar gerbat chesofai r cr af tl at er ,i ncl udi ng new andus ed,f or merUS AFj et s . Paki s t anor der edaf ai r l yl ar gebat chofai r cr af t ,made up of28 Amodel sand 12 Bs .T hes e wer e del i ver ed f r om 1983onwar ds ,ands hor t l yaf t eri tent er eds er vi ce, t hePaki s t anAi rF or cebecamet hes econdoper at ort o us et heF 16i ncombat .Bet ween1986and 1988,PAF F 16si nt er cept ed and s hotdown S ovi etand Af ghan ai r cr af twhi chvi ol at ed i t sai r s pace,of t eni npur s ui tof muj ahi deenguer i l l ast hathadcr os s edt hebor derf r om Af ghani s t ani nt oPaki s t an.F i gur esvar yast ohow many ai r cr af twer ei nvol ved,buti ti st houghtt hati nt he r egi on of t en wer e downed, wi t h t he Paki s t ani s appar ent l yl os i ng one F 16,al t hough t hi smay have beenduet of r i endl yf i r edur i ng anengagementwi t h i nt r uder s .
Chr i sWood
T hes t unni ngs i ghtoff ourPaki s t anAFF -
F 16Bss i t t i ngof ft hewi ngoft het ankerdur i ngaRedF l agmi s s i on ( PaulF i l mer )
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Paki s t anpl annedonacqui r i ngf ur t herF 16sdur i ngt hel at e1980s ,butwaspr event edf r om doi ngs o byUSl egi s l at i onbanni ngar msex por t st ocount r i ess us pect edofdevel opi ngnucl earweapons .By t het i met hatt hel egi s l at i oncamei nt of or ce,at ot al of28ai r cr af thadbeencompl et ed.T hes ewer e nevers uppl i edt oPaki s t anandpl acedi nt os t or ageatAMARC atDavi s Mont hanAF Bunt i lamor e appr opr i at eus ercoul dbef oundf ort hem.
F 16XL I naddi t i ont ot hes epr oduct i ons t andar dai r cr af t ,t her ewer eal s oaf ew oneof f sands mal lbat ch ver s i onsbui l tdur i ngt he1980s .T hemos tr adi cal wast heF 16XL .T hi shi ghl ymodi f i edver s i onf eat ur ed a' cr ankedar r ow' del t awi ng,s i mi l art ot hatpr opos edf orci vi l i ans uper s oni ct r ans por t s .T woai r cr af t wer emodi f i ed,bot hf r om t hei ni t i albat chofF S D ai r cr af t .T hef i r s twas750749whi chmadei t sf i r s t f l i ghtf r om F or tWor t h on 15 J ul y 1982.A s econd ai r cr af t( 750747,modi f i ed asa t wos eat er ) f ol l owed,andanai r cr af tofs i mi l arconf i gur at i onwaspr opos edf ort heUS AFDual Rol eF i ght er( DRF ) pr ogr amme,event ual l yl os i ngoutt ot heF 15E.T heF 16XL spas s ed t oNAS Af orr es ear chdut i esi n 1988andpar t i ci pat edi ns ever alpr oj ect sunt i lr et i r ementi n1999.T heXLwasahi ghper f or mance ai r cr af t ,and not abl yachi eved ' s upercr ui s e'( i es uper s oni cf l i ghtwi t houtus e ofr eheat )i nNAS A hands ,af t erbei ngr ef i t t edwi t haGener al El ect r i cF 110129engi ne.
L i nds ayPeacockCol l ect i on
VI ST A
Ot herVar i ant s
An i nt er es t i ng oneof fF 16 i s NF 16D 860048,whi chhasbeenus edf ort womor e r adi calconver s i ons .T he f i r s toft hes e was whent he ai r cr af tbecame t he vehi cl ef or t he VI S T A ( Var i abl es t abi l i t y I nf l i ght S i mul at orT es tAi r cr af t )pr ogr am.T heai r cr af t wasmodi f i ed by Gener alDynami csand CAL S PAN wi t h a cent r e s t i ck, a new comput erand a di f f er ent f l i ght cont r ol s ys t em,i n or dert os i mul at et he cont r ol pr oper t i es of ot herai r cr af t .T he ai r cr af t made i t sf i r s tf l i ghti nt hi sconf i gur at i on i n 1992; s hor t l y af t er war ds t he var i abl e s t abi l i t ycomput er swer er emovedandt he ai r cr af t us ed t o t es t a vect or ed t hr us t ver s i on oft he GEF 110engi ne,undert he MAT V( Mul t i Ax i sT hr us tVect or i ng)pr ogr am. T he comput er s wer er ei ns t al l ed i n 1995 whent he MAT V pr ogr am wasconcl uded. T heVI S T A ai r cr af tr emai nsi noper at i onwi t h CAL S PAN and t he US AFatEdwar dsAF B, engagedi nvar i oust es tdut i esandal s ot es t pi l ott r ai ni ng.
T her ewer emanyot hervar i ant soft heF 16 t hat wer e cons i der ed dur i ng t he 1980s . S ome wer e bui l tasone of f swhi l es ome r emai ned on t he dr awi ng boar d.One of t he mor ei nt er es t i ng unbui l tpr oj ect swas t he Agi l eF al con,f eat ur i ng a 25% bi gger wi ng, upr at ed engi ne and avi oni c i mpr ovement s .I twasof f er edasal ow cos t al t er nat i ve t o t he Advanced T act i cal F i ght er ( AT F ) pr ogr am, whi ch was t o event ual l y yi el d t he F 22. Al t hough t hi s var i antwasneverbui l t ,i tl at erpr ovi dedt he bas i sf ort heMi t s ubi s hi F 2,apr oj ectr unwi t h s i gni f i canti nputf r om L ockheedMar t i n.T he F 2 cl os el yr es embl est he F 16,buthasa l ar ger wi ng and t ai l pl anes and a r edes i gned nos e. T he ai r f r ame al s o cont ai ns much J apanes e des i gned and pr oducedt echnol ogy. L ef t-F l yi ng i nf or mat i on,oneoft heF 16XL pr ot ot ypes al ongs i de t he F 16/ 79 ( L ockheedMar t i n)
Whi l ei npr oduct i on,t heF 16A wascont i nual l yi mpr oved,wi t haddi t i onal capabi l i t i es bei ng i nt r oduced and bet t eravi oni cs added whi l s tt he ai r cr af twass t i l li n pr oduct i on.T hi sl ed t o ai r cr af tbei ng def i ned by a compl i cat ed s equence ofbl ock number s ,denot i ng t hei rcapabi l i t i es . F 16A/ Bmodel swer e def i ned asBl ock1/ 5/ 10/ 15/ 15OCU/ 20dependi ng on t hei rpr oduct i on s t andar d,wi t h Bl ock15i n par t i cul arr epr es ent i ng a f ai r l y maj ori mpr ovementpackage.I nt r oduced i n November1981,i t benef i t t ed f r om t he F 16 Mul t i nat i onalS t aged I mpr ovementPr ogr am ( MS I P)whi chi nt r oducedaddi t i onal har dpoi nt sont hei nl et( f orcar r i ageof s ens orpods ) ,s t r engt hened wi ng har d poi nt sand pr ovi s i onsf ormor e advanced cockpi t and avi oni cs i mpr ovement s .L at er ,t he F 16A/ B Oper at i onal Capabi l i t i es Upgr ade ( OCU) ki t br ought a wel come i mpr ovementi navi oni cscapabi l i t y,and mos toper at or supgr aded t hei r j et st oBl ock15OCUs t andar d.
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Ri ght-S eenatT ynd Oct ober 1982, as s i gned t o t h S quadr on bas e ( L i nds ayPeacock)
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ndal l AF B, F L ,dur i ng , t hi s F 16A was t he 4485t h T es t s ed at Egl i n AF B k)
0f r om 349S mal deel Ai rF or ce i ss een at on 17 S ept ember )
egi an Vi per s wer e egul arvi s i t or st ot he now,andt hi sF 16B, RAFWaddi ngt on i n r i nger )
Mai n-841250 car r yi ng50t hT F W mar ki ngsand
Bl ock25-Ent ert heF 16C/ D
Pi l ot ’ sPer s pect i ve
By t he t i me t hatBl ock 25 wasr eached,t he des i gnhad evol ved s uf f i ci ent l yt o mer i ta new des i gnat i on;Bl ock25j et swer et hef i r s tF 16C/ Ds , t he ' s econd gener at i on'F 16,whi chf i r s tf l ew i n 1984. As wi t h pr evi ous ver s i ons ,t he F 16C di f f er ed ver yl i t t l e i n appear ance f r om t he ear l i er ver s i ons , but a whol e hos t of i mpr ovement s wer ei nt egr at ed wi t hi n.T hes e i ncl udedamuchmor ecapabl eAN/ APG68( V) r adarwi t h gr eat ercapabi l i t yi n bot h ai r t oai r and ai r t ogr ound modes .I nt he cockpi t ,a wi deangl e HUD wasadded,al ong wi t ht wo mul t i f unct i ondi s pl ays( MF Ds ) ,andvar i ousot her enhancement s wer e made t o avi oni cs
Kei t h" Ros ey"Ros enkr anzj oi ned t heUS AFi nt he 1980s ,and,af t era t ourasani ns t r uct oront he T 38,was as s i gned t ot he F 16.Des pi t et he ai r cr af thavi ng been i ns er vi ce f orl es st han a decade,byt het i mehecamet oi t ,t heor i gi nal A/ B modelwasal r eadybei ng s uper s eded by t he mor e advanced C/ D ver s i on.Mos tofhi s ex per i encewasont hel at erver s i ons ,buthi sf i r s t i mpr es s i onsar e no doubts i mi l art o mos tpi l ot s comi ng t ot he ai r cr af ti ni t sf i r s tdecade of s er vi ce. " I begant r ai ni ngi nt heF 16atL ukeAF B,AZ ,wi t h t he310t hT F T S" T opHat s "i nMayof1988.Iwasi n
equi pmentand weaponsi nt egr at i on,wi t ht he AI M120 AMRAAM and AGM65D Maver i ck mi s s i l es bei ng added t o t he pot ent i al ar mament .I ncommonwi t ht heear l i ermodel s , t heengi nef i t t edt oal lt heBl ock25j et swast he Pr at tand Whi t ney F 100PW220;l at erai r cr af t t he l as t" B cour s e"t r ai ni ng i nt he or i gi nal" A woul dcomewi t hachoi ceofpower pl ant s . model "F 16.T hes ej et s wer e equi pped wi t h Bl ock 10 avi oni cs and t he PW engi ne. I T hef i r s tBl ock25C/ D model swer edel i ver edt o gr aduat edi nDecember1988andwentt hr ough t he US AFi n 1984,and pr oduct i on f ocus ed on as hor t" C model "upgr adebef or el eavi ngf ormy t he newerver s i on f r om t hen on,al t hough F or t f i r s toper at i onal F 16as s i gnment . " Wor t hs t i l lt ur ned out s ome A/ B model sf or ex por t .T heUS AFwas ,i nf act ,t heonl ycus t omer T hat as s i gnment was t o t he 80t h T F S f ort heBl ock25ai r cr af tandr ecei vedat ot alof " Headhunt er s " ,par toft he8t hT F W" Wol f pack"at 209 s i ngl es eat and 35 t wos eat machi nes Kuns anAB,Republ i cofKor ea,f l yi ng t heBl ock bef or e pr oduct i on s wi t ched t ot he Bl ock 30 30 F 16C." Ros ey"wast o enj oy a f ai r l yl ong ver s i on-t he f i r s tF 16ver s i ont o be devel oped as s oci at i onwi t ht heF 16,l at erf l yi ngt heBl ock40 t hatwoul dof f eradi f f er entengi neopt i on. ver s i onwi t ht he388t hT F W atHi l lAF B,Ut ah,and t aki ng par ti n Oper at i on Des er tS t or m i n 1991,
ds mal l HRt ai l codet odenot et hati twast heBos sBi r datHahnAB,Ger many,i n1988 ( L i nds ayPeacock)
dur i ng whi ch he f l ew 30combatmi s s i onsand s cor ed t en Maver i ckmi s s i l e ki l l s .L i ke t he vas t maj or i t y ofpi l ot st of l yt he ai r cr af t ,t he F 16 i mpr es s edhi mf r om dayone. " Myonl yf l yi ngas s i gnmentpr i ort of l yi ngt heF 16 wasasa T 38i ns t r uct orpi l otatRees e AF B,T X, and Il ef tt hatas s i gnmentwi t h 1, 200 hour sof f l yi ngt i mei nt heT 38.Ir emembermyf i r s tf l i ght s i nt heF 16andmar velathow eas yi twast of l y and how power f ul i t was f r om a t hr us t s t andpoi nt .
" Is houl d not et hatwhi l ef l yi ngt heF 16wasnot di f f i cul tf orme,i tt ookagood12t o16mont hst o gai n comf or t empl oyi ng t he F 16 weapons s ys t ems .My yeari n Kuns an wi t ht he 80t hT F S gavemeat r emendousamountofconf i dence i nt he F 16.If l ew wi t h pi l ot s wi t h year s of ex per i enceandIl ear neds omet hi ngf r om ever y oneoft hem. "
" I tt ookt wo s or t i est o getus ed t ot he s i de s t i ck cont r ol .T he 30degr ee s eatr ecl i ne i nt he F 16
wascomf or t abl e, t houghI f oundi teas i ert ol ean f or war d and s i tmor e upr i ghtdur i ng nor mal f l yi ng.T heonl yt i meIl eanedal l t hewaybacki n t he s eat was dur i ng hi ghG def ens i ve manoeuvr i ng.I n a hi ghG def ens i ve t ur n,t he 16C 841310/ HRoft he50t hT F W bas edatHahn bes tandonl ywayt okeept r ackofabogeyat F i n We s t Ge r ma n y i s s e e n we a r i n g t h e mar ki ngs yours i xo' cl ockpos i t i onwast ol eanal lt heway oft he 10t hT F S ,when i twasphot ogr aphed at backwi t hyourheadt ur ned. t heRAFWaddi ngt onPhot ocal lon28Apr i l1990 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Bl ock30/ 32 Under t he Al t er nat i ve F i ght er Engi ne ( AF E) pr ogr am,t he US AFs oughtt o pr ocur eas econd engi ne t ype f or t he F 16, i n t he hope t hat compet i t i on woul d keep pr i cesdown,whi l e al s o r educi ng r el i ance on t he Pr at t and Whi t ney F 100PW220 engi ne.T he s el ect ed engi ne woul d bet heGener al El ect r i cF 110, andt henex tbat chof F 16swoul d have a r edes i gned engi ne bay t o accommodat e ei t her company' s pr oduct .I n pr act i ce, t he GE engi ne al s o r equi r ed a r edes i gned,l ar geri nt ake ar ea asi tneeded a gr eat ermas sf l ow ofai r .T he i ncr eas ed ai rs uppl y was notcompat i bl e wi t ht he P&W engi ne,s o ai r cr af tf i t t edwi t ht hatengi ner et ai nedt heor i gi nal i nt ake pr of i l e, and i t was not pos s i bl e t o i nt er change engi ne t ypesbet ween ai r cr af t ;t he r es ul t i ngver s i onwast er medt heBl ock30( F 100)or Bl ock32( F 110) .
870241i saUS AFBl ock30F 16C s eenhe t he614t hT F S ,401s tT F W,f r om T or r ej onA
T hi sF 16C of110S quadr onati t shomeb t he2013I ndependenceDaycel ebr at i o
T heBl ock30/ 32wasabi gs el l er ,wi t hat ot al of733 ai r cr af t pr oduced. Ex por t cus t omer si ncl uded pr evi ousoper at or sI s r aeland Egypt ,al ong wi t h s ever alnew nat i ons ,i ncl udi ng S out h Kor ea and NAT O par t ner s( and Aegean r i val s )Gr eece and T ur key.T ur key' sai r cr af twer ebui l tunderl i cenceby T ur ki s hAer os paceI ndus t r i es( T AI )atAnkar a. I n addi t i on t ot hes e new and ex i s t i ng ex por t cus t omer s ,Gener alDynami csal s os ecur edanew domes t i ccus t omerf ort heF 16;t heUSNavy.I nt he mi d1980s ,t he Navywasi nt he mar ketf ora new adver s ar y ai r cr af t ,t or epl ace i t s A4 and F 5 ai r cr af tus ed f ordi s s i mi l arai rcombatt r ai ni ng.A cus t omi s edver s i onoft heF 16wass el ect ed,bas ed ont heBl ock30F 16C/ D.At ot al of26ai r cr af twer e del i ver ed,cons i s t i ngof22F 16Ns i ngl es eat er sand f ourT F 16N t wos eat er s .T he ai r cr af twer e never i nt ended t o be combatcapabl e and l acked a gunandt heupgr adedr adarf i t t edt oUS AFF 16Cs , buthad a s t r engt hened wi ng s t r uct ur et o bet t er copewi t ht hedemandsofDACT ;des pi t et hi s ,t hey onl yhadas hor tcar eer ,s er vi ngbet ween1988and 1998,whencr ackswer edi s cover edi nt hei rwi ngs . S ur vi vi ng ai r cr af t wer e pl aced i ns t or age and event ual l yr epl acedbyembar goedF 16A/ Bst hat wer eor i gi nal l ybui l tf orPaki s t an.
T heUS N’ sF 16Nf l eetwasr et i r edaf t era now ondi s pl ayatPal mS pr i ngsAi rMus e
T he f i r s tbat ch ofF 16sdel i ver ed t ot he Hel l eni c Ai rF or ce wer e Bat ch30s ,s uchast hi sex ampl ef r om 330Mi r a,s eenvi s i t i ngKl ei ne Br ogel ,Bel gi um,i n2007 ( PaulDunn)
er ecar r yi ngt hemar ki ngsof AB,S pai n( Kevi nWi l l s )
bas eofRamatDavi ddur i ng t i ons( Chr i sWood)
T he I s r ael i soper at ea l ar ge numberoft wos eatai r cr af t ,i ncl udi ng t hi sF 16D i n us e wi t h 109S quadr on,al s o bas ed atRamatDavi d ( Chr i sWood)
as hor tcar eer .T hi sai r cr af ti s s eum ( PaulDunn)
Oneoft heembar goed Paki s t anAi rF or ceF 16Asnow s er vi ngwi t h t heUSNavy’ sNaval S t r i keAi rWar f ar eCent er( Kar lDr age)
Bl ock40/ 42-T he‘ Ni ghtF al con’ T hef i nal ver s i onoft heF 16t oappeardur i ngt he 1980swast heBl ock40/ 42,unof f i ci al l yknownas t he Ni ght F al con and s omet i mes t he F 16CG/ DG.T hi sver s i onbr oughtawhol ehos tof i mpr ovement s , par t i cul ar l yt ot heai r cr af t ' sabi l i t y t oat t ackt ar get satni ght .F ort hef i r s tt i me,t he L ANT I RN( L ow Al t i t udeNavi gat i onandT ar get i ng I nf r ar ed f orNi ght )s ys t em wasf ul l yi nt egr at ed ont ot heai r cr af t ;t het wopods( navi gat i onand t ar get i ng)wer ei ns t al l edont hei nl etpyl ons ,and t heunder car r i agel egswer emadel ongerand s t r ongert oaccommodat et heex t r al oad.T her e wer eas el ect i onofot heravi oni ci mpr ovement s t oo,s uchashol ogr aphi c HUD,GPSnavi gat i on andani mpr ovedr adar . F orpi l ot sus ed t ot heol derver s i onsoft heF 16, t hi snew ver s i onwasar evel at i onandpr obabl y wasdes er vi ng ofa new des i gnat i on.Ed S mi t h was an RAF ex change of f i cerwi t ht he 4t h T F S / 388t hT F W atHi l l AF Bi nt hel at e1980s .Havi ng t r ai ned on t he Bl ock 15 F 16A,he j oi ned t he s quadr onj us tbef or ei tr ecei vedBl ock40sf ort he f i r s tt i me,andaf t eronl y50hour sont heAmodel began t he conver s i on pr oces s .Conver t i ng t o t henew ai r cr af twasqui t eachal l enge. " T he r adarwast he new mul t i mode APG68, wi t hPul s eDoppl ers ear chand t r ackcapabi l i t y and advanced ai r t oai rand gr ound mappi ng modes .T hecl ever es ti st r ackwhi l es can,whi ch al l owst hepi l ott ot r ackmul t i pl et ar get st oget her and l aunch s i mul t aneous at t acks f r om l ong r ange.T hes i des t i ckandt hr ot t l enow became t he means t o pl ay a whol e or ches t r a of f unct i ons . Once i n bat t l e one’ shandsbar el y moved f r om t hes e,cont r ol l i ng r adar ,weapons and count er meas ur es as wel las t he mai n modesoft hemul t i f unct i ondi s pl ays .Wequi ckl y became pr of i ci ent pi ccol o pl ayer s and al l i ndi vi dual pi l ot pr ef er r ed f unct i ons wer e pr ogr ammed t ot he ai r cr af tt hr ough t he Dat a T r ans f er Car t r i dge dur i ng pr ef l i ght pl anni ng. Mas s i ve amount sofi nf or mat i on ar e di s pl ayed and t he br ai n, hands and eyes s omehow became t uned t or es pond t o eachot herand s ucces s f ul l ycompl et et het as k. "
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Bel ow -T hi sBl ock40F 16C wasdel i ver edt ot heR I s aAi rBas ei nS ept ember2000 ( Kar lDr age)
ay21Rf ort hi s4t hF S ,388t hF W,Bl ock40 ( PaulF i l mer )
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However , t her e was s t i l l t i me t o occas i onal l yenj oyt het hr i l loff l yi ngs uch a capabl e machi ne. S mi t h and a col l eaguewer et as kedwi t hpi cki ngupa pai roff act or yf r es hj et sf r om Gener al Dynami csatF or tWor t h.Af t erar el at i vel y s edat ef l i ghtt o Buckl eyF i el d,Col or ado, wher et hey r ef uel l ed,he and hi sf l i ght l ead ( " K9" )gota bi tmor e advent ur ous and ar r anged anunr es t r i ct ed cl i mb out on depar t ur e; hi s wor ds gi ve s ome f l avourofwhati tf el tl i ket of l yt hi ss uper b ai r cr af t . " Af t er l i ni ng up f or t akeof f and conf i r mi ng we wer e vi s ual wi t h t he Boei ng ai r l i nercr os s i ng t he ai r f i el d,K9 r el eas ed br akesand s el ect ed f ul lAB. I f ol l owed 10s econdsl at eri ns i mi l ars t yl e, wher euponal lhel lbr okel oos e.T he120 knot sr ot at i ons peedwasachi evednear i ns t ant aneous l yand asIf el tt he wei ght come of ft he mai n gearIr ai s ed t he wheel sbuts t ayed l ow and chas ed K9 t owar dst heendoft her unway.Hewas j us t goi ng pl an f or m i n a cl oud of condens at i onbef or er ocket i ngs kywar ds . I checkedt os eet hegearl i ght swer eout by300knot s( yes ,j us t )and at400knot s pul l ed har dt of ol l ow t he dotahead. L yi ngonmybacki nanearver t i cal cl i mb Ibur s toutl aughi ng t o mys el fast he j et accel er at ed!At25, 000f eetIr ol l edover andpul l edhar ddownt onearl eveland s etof faf t erK9t or ej oi nandcont i nuet o Hi l l .Aswer eachedt hecr ui s eat45, 000f t It ookt i met ol ookovermys houl derand wat ch myown cont r ai lbi l l owi ng outi n mywake,t he f i r s tt i me i nt hi swonder f ul j etIhad had t i me t o appr eci at et he s er eni t yofhi ghal t i t udef l i ght . " Bl ock 40 ai r cr af t( GE engi ne) wer e del i ver ed t ot he US AF ,Bahr ai n,I s r ael , T ur keyandEgypt ,wher east heUS AFwas t heonl ycus t omerf ort heBl ock42ai r cr af t ( P&W) .
T heF 16ADF-Ai rDef ens eF i ght er
Ast he1980swenton,t heUS AFr ecei vedl ar genumber sofevermor ecapabl eF 16Cs ,meani ngt hats o model swer enow s ur pl ust oact i vedut yr equi r ement s .I n1986,i twasannouncedt hatt her emai ni ngB woul dpas st ot heANG,and,f ol l owi ngmodi f i cat i ons ,as s umeanai rdef encer ol e.T hes eai r cr af twoul d ' f i ght er ' F 16st obeoper at edbyt heUSf or cesandr epl acedol derF 4sandr emai ni ngF 106si nt hei nt e modi f i cat i onsi ncl udedi mpr ovement st ot her adar ,communi cat i onss ys t em andI F F( I dent i f i cat i onF r i e wi t ht heabi l i t yt ocar r yt heAI M7S par r ow andAI M120AMRAAM mi s s i l es ,andt her es ul t i ngai r cr af twa F 16ADF( Ai rDef ens eF i ght er ) .At ot al of271ai r cr af t( 246Amodel sand25Bmodel s )wer econver t ed.
T heWarMachi ne F 16smadeupal ar gepr opor t i onoft hemas s i ve f or ce of mi l i t ar y har dwar e gat her ed i nt he Per s i anGul fi nant i ci pat i onofconf l i ct .Whent he deadl i ne f or I r aqif or ces t o wi t hdr aw f r om Kuwai tpas s ed,Des er tS hi el d became Des er t S t or m, t he l i ber at i on of Kuwai tf r om I r aqi occupat i on.T hi si ni t i al l yt ook t he f or m ofa mas s i ve aer i alas s aul t ,and F 16swer e heavi l y i nvol ved i nt hi scampai gnf r om t he s t ar t .F l yi ng ghtat t ack mi s s i onsoverI r aq and I nAugus t1990,I r aq i nvaded Kuwai t ,t r i gger i ng day and ni t ,t he mos tcommonl y car r i ed weapons Oper at i onDes er tS hi el d.T hef i r s tobj ect i veoft he Kuwai eMk842000l bungui ded' dumb' bombsand oper at i on wast os ecur et he bor der sofS audi wer t heAGM65Maver i ckmi s s i l e. Ar abi a, and pr event t he I r aqif or ces f r om cont i nui ngt hei radvancei nt ot heS audi oi l f i el ds , nt ot al ,249US AFF 16sf l ew ar emar kabl e13, 340 whi chwoul dhavebr oughtmuchoft her egi on' s I or t i esoverI r aq,mor et hananyot hercoal i t i on oi ls uppl yundert hecont r olofS addam Hus s ei n. s ype.I nf act ,F 16sf l ew 25% ofmi s s i ons ,ar ound Overt he nex tf ew mont hs ,t he mi s s i on s hi f t ed t 400 dai l y,and wer ei ns t r ument ali nt he f r om t hatdef ens i ve r ol et o a mor e of f ens i ve 300ucces s f ul evi ct i onofI r aqi f or cesf r om Kuwai t .I n pos t ur easdi pl omat i cef f or t st of aci l i t at eanI r aqi s addi t i on,t he r ecent l ydel i ver ed F 16Csoft he wi t hdr awal camet onot hi ng. T heendoft he1980ss aw t heUS AFbegi nni ngt o r el yt ot al l y on t he F 16 f ort he maj or i t y ofi t s t act i cal mi s s i ons ,wi t huni t soper at i ngt heai r cr af t i nEur opeandAs i ai naddi t i ont ot heUS .Ast he Col d Wardr ew t o a cl os e,t he Ai rF or ce was aboutt of ace i t sbi gges tchal l enge s i nce t he Vi et nam War ,and t he F 16wast o pl aya key r ol ei nt heconf l i ctt hatf ol l owed.
s omeoft heear l i er Bl ock15F 16A/ Bs l dbet heonl yt r ue t er cept orr ol e.T he i endorF oe) ,al ong asdes i gnat edt he d.
Above& l ef t-I nJ une1994F 16A ADF sf r om t he169t hF S /I l l i noi sAi rNat i onal Guar d depl oyed t o RAFF ai r f or di nGl ouces t er s hi r e. . . . s eenont hes e pages ar et woex ampl es ,800556and810762 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
RoyalBahr ai niAi rF or ceal s opl ayedas mal lbut s i gni f i cantr ol ei nt he conf l i ct ,as s umi ng bot h def ens i veandof f ens i ver ol es . One not abl e mi s s i on f ort he US AF was t he ' Package Q'r ai d on t ar get si n downt own Baghdad,t hel ar ges tr ai dper f or meddur i ngt he conf l i ct .T hi st ookpl aceon19J anuar y1991,wi t h t he at t acki ng f or ce made up of78 ai r cr af t , cons i s t i ng ofa cor e of56 F 16s ,t he l ar ges t numberoft he t ype t ot ake par ti na s i ngl e mi s s i on.T he r emai nderoft he package was madeupof14F 15Cs( es cor t ) ,s i xF 4Gs( S EAD) andt woEF 111As( el ect r oni cj ammi ngs uppor t ) . Al t hough t he at t ack wasbr oadl ys ucces s f ul , chal l engesencount er ed dur i ng t hemi s s i onl ed t ot act i csbei ngchangedf orf ut ur eoper at i ons . Heavyant i ai r cr af tdef encescaus edt hel os sof t wo F 16s ,wi t h bot h pi l ot sbei ng capt ur ed by I r aqi t r oops .
T heF 16cer t ai nl ypr ovi dedt hebackboneoft he US AF ' s ( and t her ef or e t he coal i t i on' s ) i nvol vementi nt he conf l i ct .Af t ert he warwas over ,Gen Col i n Powel l ,Chai r man oft he J oi nt Chi ef sofS t af f ,cr edi t edt heF 16andM1t ankas t wooft hei t emsofhar dwar et hatgavecoal i t i on f or cest he deci s i ve edge dur i ng Des er tS t or m. Bot hRos eyand Ed S mi t hf l ew combatmi s s i ons dur i ng t he conf l i ct ;l ook outf orf or t hcomi ng ar t i cl esonGAR,i ncl udi nggr i ppi ngaccount sof f l yi ngt heF 16onoper at i ons .
Dur i ng Des er tS t or m,al t houghF 16sr out i nel yf l ew wi t hl i ve AI M9 S i dewi ndermi s s i l eson t hei rwi ngt i pr ai l s ,t hes e wer es t r i ct l yf or s el f def encedur i ngat t ackmi s s i ons ,andnoF 16pi l ots hotdownan I r aqiai r cr af tdur i ng t he conf l i ct .Af t erDes er tS t or m,US ai r cr af t s t ayed i nt hePer s i anGul fr egi onand f l ew s or t i esenf or ci ng' nof l y z ones 'overpar t sofI r aq,aspar tofOper at i onsNor t her n and S out her nWat ch.On27November1992,aUS AFF 16D( 900778)on pat r oloverS out her nI r aq,engaged and s hotdown an I r aqiAi r F or ce Mi G25wi t hanAI M120,mar ki ng t he f i r s tai r t oai rki l lf ora US AFF i ght i ngF al con( andal s ot hef i r s tf ort heAMRAAM mi s s i l e) .I n J anuar yt hef ol l owi ngyear ,anot herUS AFF 16s hotdownanI r aqi Mi G23i nas i mi l arengagement .
Demi s eoft heF 16ADF T he pos t Col d War ,pos t Des er tS t or m er a was one ofhuge changest ot he US mi l i t ar y.Al lbr anchesoft he s er vi ce wer e r educed i ns i z e,wi t ht he Ai rF or ce l os i ng s ome t ypesf r om i t s i nvent or y al t oget her .T he numberofF 16s i nt he act i ve dut y componentwasr educed qui t e dr amat i cal l y,meani ng s ur pl us ai r cr af tcoul dpas st ot heANG andAF RES / AF RC.T hi s ,t oget herwi t h t hef actt hatt het hr eatofaS ovi etai rat t ackont heUShadal l but di s appear ed,meantt hatt heF 16ADFhadaf ai r l ys hor tl i f ewi t ht he ANG,wi t hr et i r ement s commenci ng i n 1994.S t i l la capabl e machi ne,s omeADF sl at erf oundt hei rwayt of r i endl ynat i onsasa r el at i vel yeconomi cal wayofacqui r i ngapot enti nt er cept orf or ce.
Bel ow -T he f i r s tUS AFF 16t os hootdownanot herai r cr af twas900778, s er vi ngatt het i mewi t ht he33F Sandf l ownbyL tCol Gar yNor t h.I ti snow f l ownbyt he310F S ,andi ss eenher el eadi ngapai rf r om i t ' shomebas eof L ukeAF B,AZ ( Har veyBr ugger )
Above -Bl ock32 t he 144t hF i ght er ANG,i ss een atl o r ecent l ys t ar t ed t h McDonnel lDougl a ati t sF r es nohome
Ri ght-An F 16C I l l i noi sANG,and 182nd F S , 149t h l i neup t oget her L akenheat hr unwa T her e wer es i xai r had been par t i ci p S ent r y Whi t e F a ( Kar lDr age)
2F 16C 860236 of erWi ng,Cal i f or ni a l owl evel .T he uni t t het r ans i t i ont ot he gl asF 15C/ D Eagl e ebas e( PaulF i l mer )
oft he 183r dF W, d an F 16D oft he F W, T ex as ANG, er on t he RAF way i nJ une 2005. i r cr af ti nt ot aland ci pat i ng i n Ex er ci s e F al con i n Pol and
Conf l i cti nt heBal kans T he ‘ 90swasa bus ydecade f orUSand NAT O F 16 oper at i ons . I n addi t i on t o t he af or ement i onedNor t her nandS out her nWat ch, whi ch cont i nued overI r aq,t her e wer e al s oa numberofdepl oyment swi t hi nNAT O' sEur opean hear t l and.T hebr eakup ofYugos l avi al ed t oa s er i esofr egi onalconf l i ct s ,wi t h NAT O f or ces i nt er veni ngons ever al occas i ons .Bet ween1993 and 1995,NAT O f or cesf l ew pat r ol sovert he ar ea as par t ofOper at i on Deny F l i ght ,t he enf or cementofa nof l yz one overBos ni a and Her z egovi na.Dur i ngt hi sdepl oyment ,US AFF 16s wer ei nvol ved wi t h pol i ci ng t he nof l yz one, al ong wi t hF 16s f r om ot herNAT O count r i es i ncl udi ng Bel gi um,t he Net her l ands ,Denmar k, Nor way, and T ur key and had s ever al engagement swi t hS er bi anmi l i t ar yai r cr af t . T he mos ts i gni f i cantoft hes e occur r ed on 28 F ebr uar y1994whenaf or mat i onofs i xS er bJ 21 J as t r eb j et s vi ol at ed t he nof l y z one and bombed a f act or yi n Banj aL uka.A pai rof F 16Csf r om t he526t hF S / 86t hF W engaged t he i nt r uder s ,wi t h one oft he F 16 pi l ot sdowni ng t hr ee of t he J 21s wi t h a combi nat i on of AMRAAM and S i dewi ndermi s s i l es .A f our t hJ 21 wasal s os hotdown bya s econd pai rofF 16s f r om t hes ameuni t . I naddi t i ont ot he pat r olmi s s i ons ,ast i me went on and t ens i ons i ncr eas ed, s ome cl os e ai r s uppor tand s t r i ke mi s s i onswer e al s of l own.I t wasagai ns tt hi sbackdr opt hat ,on2J une1995, US AFF 16 pi l otCaptS cot tO' Gr ady wass hot downonami s s i onoverS er bcont r ol l edt er r i t or y. Af t erevadi ngcapt ur ef ors ever aldays ,hewas r ecover edbyUSMar i nes .I nr es pons et os ever al at t acks on ci vi l i ans and al l egat i ons of war cr i mes ,Oper at i onDenyF l i ghtgavewayi npar t t oOper at i onDel i ber at eF or ce,whi chbeganon 30Augus t1995.Del i ber at eF or cel as t ed f orl es s t hana mont hbuti nvol ved heavybombi ng of S er bt ar get s ;once agai n,NAT O F 16s wer e heavi l y commi t t ed t o oper at i ons . Wi t h t he ces s at i on of t he bombi ng campai gn,Deny F l i ghtcont i nuedunt i l December1995,whent he s i gni ngoft heDayt onAccor dsl edt oanuneas y peacei nt her egi on.
Above -F 16C 85461RS ,f r om t he 526t hT F S / 86 Augus t1990 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Bel ow -892137 i st he ai r cr af tr es pons i bl ef ort oper at edbyt he526t hF S / 86t hF W dur i ngOper at ai r cr af tcar r i ess peci al mar ki ngf ort he“31OG”an ki l l s( J i m Si mps on)
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rt he t hr ee J as t r eb ki l l son t he s ame day when at i onDenyF l i ght .Now bas edatAvi ano,I t al y,t he andt het hr ees t ar sbeneat ht hecockpi ts i gni f yt he
Peace was nott ol as tl ong i nt hi st r oubl ed r egi on.T he Kos ovo r egi on had at t empt ed t o br eak away f r om Yugos l avi a,buthad been uns ucces s f ul .Agr owi ngi ns ur gencyi nt her egi on l ed t o ar med cl as hes bet ween t he Kos ovo L i ber at i on Ar my ( KL A)and S er bf or ces ;once agai n, NAT O i nt er vened t o i mpos e a peacekeepi ng f or ce on t he r egi on. I n pr epar at i onf ort hi s ,Oper at i onAl l i edF or cewas l aunched,an ai rcampai gn t o degr ade t he Yugos l avi anmi l i t ar yi nf r as t r uct ur e.T hebombi ng t ooki ns t r at egi ct ar get ss uchasbr i dges ,power s t at i onsand communi cat i onf aci l i t i esand t ook pl acebet weenMar chandJ une1999. Once agai n,NAT OF 16s ,f l yi ng f r om bas esi n I t al y,hi tt ar get st hr oughoutt he Republ i c of S er bi a and al s o engaged i ns ome l i mi t ed ai r combat .On t he ni ghtof24/ 25Mar ch 1999,a RNL AFF 16 i nt er cept ed and f i r ed an AI M120 AMRAAM ataYugos l avMi G29,caus i ngs ever e damage.I twascl ai medasa' ki l l ' ,buti nf actt he Mi G made i ts af el ybackt o bas e,al t hough i t was damaged beyond r epai r .A f ur t herai r bat t l et ook pl ace on 4 May,when anot her Mi G29wasat t acked bya pai rofF 16Csf r om t he 20t hF W and s hotdown wi t h an AI M120. NAT O l os s esi ncl uded a US AF F 16C f r om t he 555t hF S / 31s tF W,downed bya S A3S AM on2 May, al t hought hepi l otwasl at err ecover ed. T he bombi ng campai gn cont i nued unt i l12 J une when t he KF OR peacekeepi ng f or ce was al l owed t o ent erKos ovo,begi nni ng a pr oces s whi chl ed t oKos ovani ndependencet enyear s l at er .
AnF 16CJf r om t he ofaRedF l agmi s s i
Suppr es s i onofEnemyAi rDef ens es-SEAD S i nce 1990,t he s t andar dF 16C/ D hasbeen pr oduced t o Bl ock50/ 52 s peci f i cat i ons ,and hasbeen par toft he L ockheed ( and s ubs equent l y L ockheedMar t i n)company' spr oductr anges i ncei t s1993pur chas eoft he Gener al Dynami csai r cr af tmanuf act ur i ngbus i nes s .I mpr ovement si ncl ude bet t ernavi gat i on and communi cat i on equi pmentand a whol e hos tof new weapons opt i ons ,i ncl udi ng t he AGM84 Har poon ant i s hi ppi ng mi s s i l e.T heai r cr af ti sunof f i ci al l ydes i gnat edF 16CJ / DJ ;mos tUS AFai r cr af t f r om t hi sbat ch have now been upgr aded t o Bl ock50D/ 52D s t andar d, whi ch i ncor por at est he abi l i t yt o empl oyt he AGM88HARM i nt he vi t al S EADr ol e.I nf act ,F 16shavecar r i edHARMss i ncet hemi d1980s ,butwer e onl yabl et of i r et hem whenwor ki ngwi t hF 4G Phant oms ,whi chcar r i edt he r equi r ed det ect i on and t ar get i ng s ys t ems .I twasonl y when t he Bl ock 50D/ 52D ver s i onbecame avai l abl et hatt he US AFwasabl et or et i r et he F 4G andF 16swer eabl et oper f or mt het as ks ol o.
Ri ght-US Ai rF or c 900833/S P,f r om F W, bas ed at r ecover st oNel l i sA anot her Red F l a ( F r ankGr eal i s h)
L et t-Ai rt o ai rvi e Har poonal l weat h on an F 16 ( USAi rF or ce/Ci nd
T opl ef t-S eenher e i nf ul lWi l d Weas e 30H F 16C 870281 t he 52nd T F W at on19Oct ober198 Ger manyunt i l 1994
e35t hF W atMi s awaABi nJ apan,s por t i ngt he' WW' ( Wi l dWeas el )t ai l code,r et ur nst oNel l i sAF Batt heend s s i oni nJ anuar y2007.I ti scar r yi ngapai rofAGM88HARMs( Chr i sWood)
or ce F 16CM50CF , t he480t hF S ,52nd at S pangdahl em, Ai rF or ceBas eaf t er F l ag 112 mi s s i on
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ML U-Mi dL i f eUpdat e
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Al s oi nt he ear l y1990s ,a s t udywasunder t akenby t he or i gi nalf ourEur opean Par t i ci pat i ng Ai rF or ces and t he US AFt o updat e a numberofear l ymodel F 16A/ Bsi n or dert o pr ol ong t hei rs er vi ce l i f e.T he r es ul twast he Mi dL i f e Updat e( ML U)pr ogr amme, whi chbr oughtawhol ehos tofi mpr ovement st ot he F 16' scapabi l i t i es .T hes ei ncl udedanew wi deangl e HUD, cockpi t enhancement s , i ncl udi ng new di s pl ays ,GPSandot heravi oni ci mpr ovement s . Al lt he Eur opean par t ner nat i ons ended up upgr adi ng t hei rr emai ni ng j et s , wi t h del i ver i es commenci ngi n1997.T her es ul t i ngj eti sdes i gnat ed t he F 16AM/ BM and ot hernat i onshave ended up s i gni ng up f ort he modi f i cat i on f ort hei rown F 16s , wi t h Por t ugal ,J or dan, T hai l and and Paki s t an choos i ngt oi mpr ovet hei rai r cr af ti nt hi sway.
RoyalDani s hAi rF or ceF 16BM,ET 198,f r om Es k730oni t swayt oF l or ennesAi rBas ewher ei twasons t 2012Bel gi anAi rF or ceI nt er nat i onal Ai rS how ( F r ankGr eal i s h)
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Bl ock50/ 52 Bl ock50/ 52j et shave beens ol d ar ound t he wor l d,t o ex i s t i ng cus t omer s and al s o new oper at or s .T hes ei ncl ude Oman,T ur keyand Gr eece,who or der edBl ock50ver s i ons ,andS out hKor ea,S i ngapor eandPaki s t anwho opt edf ort heBl ock52ver s i on.A mor eadvancedver s i on,knownasBl ock 50/ 52+hasal s o beenwi del ys ol d wi t hcus t omer si ncl udi ng T ur key,Chi l e ( 50+) ,Gr eece,Pol and,Mor occo and S i ngapor e( 52+) .T he Bl ock50/ 52+ ver s i on i sabl et o car r y conf or malf uelt ankson t he uppers ur f acest o i ncr eas er ange.T heDmodelal s ohasabul geds pi ne,f i r s ts eenonear l i er I s r ael i F 16Ds ,whi chcanaccommodat eaddi t i onal avi oni cs .
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CaptManol i sKar ahal i os T he l at es tver s i onsoft he F 16r emai nasuni ver s al l y popul arwi t hpi l ot sast he ear l yver s i onshad been. CaptManol i sKar ahal i oswast heHel l eni cAi rF or ce F 16di s pl aypi l otf ort hr ee year s .He came t ot he F 16havi ngpr evi ous l yf l ownanat t ackai r cr af tofa muchear l i ergener at i on. " F ol l owi ngmypi l ott r ai ni ng,Iwasver yl uckyt ohave f l ownt hemi ght yA7HCor s ai rI I ,aver s i ont ai l or edf or t heHel l eni cAF .Igai nedmor et han200hour si nt he A7H and Iwasa memberoft he l as tS quadr oni n t he wor l ds t i l lf l yi ng t he A7,336S quadr on,cal l s i gn “OL YMPOS ”( t he mount ai n wher et he Ol ympi an GodsofAnci entGr eekMyt hol ogyl i ved) . " I n2003Iwass el ect edt obeamongt hef i r s tf i ght er pi l ot st ot r ans i t i ont ot henewl yacqui r ed F 16Bl ock 52+and Imoved backt ot he i s l and ofCr et e and Chani aAi rBas et os t ar tmyt r ai ni ng.T heknowl edge and t he ex per i ence t hat Iacqui r ed f l yi ng t he Cor s ai rhel ped mea l otdur i ng myt r ans i t i on,whi l s t t heVi pergavemewhatIwasmi s s i ngi nt heA7.I n t he F 16 Iwasal waysconf i dentt hatIand my s quadr onmat eswoul dal waysr et ur naswi nner s .T he var i et y ofmoder n ai r t oai r( I RI S Tand AI M120C) and pr eci s i on ai r t ogr ound weapons( PavewayI I I andAGM65G)gi veust hecapabi l i t yt os ucces s f ul l y ex ecut eever ymi s s i on! " Di s pl ayi ngt heVi per ,f l yi nga“cl ean”F 16,atal ow al t i t ude i n a hi ghG envi r onment was t he ex per i ence of a l i f et i me! T he power f ulengi ne coupl edwi t henvi abl eaer odynami csandapr eci s e f l i ght cont r ol s ys t em pr ovi ded unpr ecedent ed agi l i t y whi l s tt he s ophi s t i cat ed gr ound avoi dance avi oni csandt heant i Gs ys t em hel pedmes af el yf l y s ucha demandi ng t as k.I ’ l ls ayt hatt he Vi peri sa ver yf or gi vi ng f l yi ngmachi ne,asl ong ast hepi l ot ’ s s i t uat i onal awar enes shasnotbeenl os t . " However ,whatIr eal l yl i ke i nt he F 16,i st hatf r om t hemomentwhenIf i r s ts t r appedi nt oher ,If el tt hat t he Vi perwasan ex t ens i on ofmys el f ,des i gned ex cl us i vel yar oundi t spi l ot .F l yi ngt heF 16hadbeen a‘ dr eam ofl i f e’t hatcamet r ueandI f eel ver yl ucky t hatIf l ew t hatj et . " Al li magest hi ss pr ead cour t es y ofCaptManol i s Kar ahal i osunl es ss t at ed
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Bl ock60-F 16E/ F Des er tF al con T he cur r ent' ul t i mat e'ver s i on oft he F 16 i st he Bl ock 60 ver s i on, as s uppl i edt ot heUAEAF .I ncont r as tt o ear l i erver s i ons ,t hi sonehasr ecei ved as epar at edes i gnat i on;t heF 16E/ F , dubbed t he Des er tF al con. T hi s hi ghl y advanced ver s i on was devel oped by L ockheed Mar t i n s peci f i cal l y f or t he UAE' sf i ght er r equi r ement s ,i n cl os e par t ner s hi p wi t ht he count r y.I nf act ,t he UAE cont r i but eds ome$30bi l l i ont owar ds devel opment cos t s , and i t i s r epor t ed t hat s houl d any ot her count r i es opt t o pur chas e t he ai r cr af t ,t heUAEwi l l beduer oyal t i es , asar et ur noni t si nves t ment . T heF 16E/ Ff eat ur esal ar genumber ofadvanced s ys t ems ,i ncl udi ng t he Nor t hr op Gr umman AN/ APG80 Act i ve El ect r oni cal l yS canned Ar r ay ( AES A) agi l e beam r adar and i nt er nal F L I R/ t ar get i ng s ys t em, amongs tot herenhancement s .T he r es ul ti st he f i r s tpr oduct i on F 16 t o haveanot i ceabl ydi f f er entpr of i l et o i t spr edeces s or s ,wi t hCF T sgi vi ngt he ai r cr af taver ys t ockyappear ance.I t al s o mar kst he f i r s tt i me t hata US companyhass uppl i edanai r cr af tt o an ex por t cus t omert hat i s mor e advanced t han t hos e oper at ed by i t sownAi rF or ce.At ot al of80ai r cr af t ( 55F 16Esand25F 16F s )havebeen del i ver ed t ot he UAEAF ;t he ai rar m r ecent l y began t he pr el i mi nar y pr oces sofupgr adi ngi t sj et st oBl ock 61s t andar d,and mayal s o acqui r e mor e ai r cr af ti n t he f ut ur e. UAE F 16E/ F s ar e oper at ed by t hr ee s quadr onsbas ed atAlDhaf r a AB. T he ai r cr af thave s een act i on over L i bya dur i ng 2011,whent he UAEAF wasoneoft henat i onsenf or ci ngt he nof l yz oneovert hecount r y.
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Whi l e mos t cus t omer s have opt ed t o pur chas et hel at es tver s i onoft heF 16,s ome nat i ons have opt ed f or t he mor e cos t ef f ect i ve s ol ut i on of pur chas i ng s econdhand model s ,of t en i n addi t i on t o pr evi ous l y del i ver ed, new bui l d ai r cr af t . Por t ugalbecameanF 16oper at ori n1994, wi t hani ni t i al bat chof20new Bl ock15OCU F 16A/ Bmodel s .L at erabat chof25s i mi l ar , s econd hand, ex ANG ai r cr af t wer e obt ai ned. S i mi l ar l y,t heRoyalT haiAi rF or cehasopt ed t o bol s t eri t sF 16f or ce wi t ht he acqui s i t i on ofa bat ch ofex US AFF 16ADF sand al s o r ecei ved a numberofus ed ai r cr af tf r om nei ghbour i ng S i ngapor e,i n ex change f or t heus eoft r ai ni ngf aci l i t i esi nT hai t er r i t or y. Even I s r ael has r ecei ved s ubs t ant i al number soff or merUS AFF 16s ,al t hough i n s l i ght l ymor eunus ualci r cums t ances .Dur i ng Oper at i onDes er tS t or m,I r aq at t empt ed t o pr ovoke I s r aelt o become i nvol ved i nt he conf l i ctbyl aunchi ng s ever alS cud mi s s i l es atT elAvi v.T he US l ed coal i t i on t hatwas f i ght i ngt or emoveS addam Hus s ei n' sf or ces f r om Kuwai ti ncl uded s ever alAr ab nat i ons , who woul d not have accept ed I s r ael i i nvol vementi nt he conf l i ct ,s o had I s r ael r et al i at ed t her ewoul d havebeena s t r ong chance t hat t he coal i t i on coul d have br okenup.USdi pl omat ss ucces s f ul l yur ged I s r aelt oex er ci s er es t r ai nti nt hef aceoft hi s pr ovocat i on;par t l y asr ecogni t i on oft hi s r es t r ai nt ,a bat ch of50 ex US AF F 16A/ Bs washandedoveri n1994. J or danal s obegant hepr oces sofacqui r i ng F 16si n1994wheni ts i gnedapeacet r eat y wi t hI s r ael .T hi spavedt hewayt ot hes uppl y ofF 16sf r om USs ur pl uss t ocks .T wobat ches of ex US AF j et s( Bl ock 15 ADF s ) wer e event ual l ys uppl i edt oJ or dani n19978and 2003. F ur t her del i ver i es of ex Bel gi an F 16AM/ BMs ar r i ved bet ween 2008 and 2011,as t hatcount r ys oughtt o of f l oad s omeofi t sr edundantf i ght er s .
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I n2013,t heDut chgover nmentannounced t he s al e of15ofi t sF 16st oJ or dan,t aki ng t het ot al oper at edt onear l y80,andmaki ng i ta s i gni f i cantf or ce i nt he r egi on.Hol l and has al s os uppl i ed s ur pl us F 16AM/ BMs t o Chi l e,wi t ha t ot alof36 Bl ock20ML Uj et s havi ng been del i ver ed t os uppl ementt he s i ngl ebat chofnew Bl ock50spur chas edi n 2006.
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One s i gni f i cant ,al bei tt empor ar y,oper at or oft he F 16wast he I t al i an Ai rF or ce ( AMI ) . Del ayst o del i ver i esofEur of i ght erEF 2000s l ed t ot he l eas i ng of24 Panavi aT or nado ADVs( F 3s )f r om t heRAF .T hel eas ef ort hes e ai r cr af tr anouti n2003,atwhi chpoi ntt he T yphoon wass t i l lnotr eady f ors er vi ce.I n or dert o cont i nue t of i l lt he gap,t he AMI ar r anged a f i veyearl eas e of30 ex US AF F 16A/ BADF s ,wi t hanopt i ont oex t end t he l eas ef ora f ur t herf i ve year s .I nt he event , t he ai r cr af tr emai ned i ns er vi ce wi t ht he I t al i ansunt i l2012,when t he f i nalai r cr af t r et ur nedt oDavi s Mont hanAF Bf ors t or age. I t al yi scur r ent l yt heonl y' f or meroper at or ' of t heF 16.
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hF S ,174t hF W,NY i t sF 16Csand Dsi n 9A Reaper .S een 082( Kar lDr age)
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T heAi rF or cehas ,however ,acknowl edgedt he need t o upgr ade i t sf l eetofF 16s ,i n or dert o mai nt ai nt hei rcombatef f ect i venes sunt i lt he F 35becomesoper at i onal i nl ar genumber s .T hi s wast o have t aken t he f or m oft he Combat Avi oni csPr ogr ammed Ex t ens i on S ui t e( CAPES ) , whi ch woul d have r epl aced t he avi oni csand r adar i n 300 US AF F 16s , al ong wi t h 146 T ai wanes eF 16A/ Bs .However ,t hi spr ogr ammei s cur r ent l yi ndoubt ,wi t ht hepos s i bi l i t yt hatt heAi r F or ce may opt f or S er vi ce L i f eEx t ens i on Pr ogr am ( S L EP) ,a much l es s compr ehens i ve upgr ade pr ogr amme.What evert he f or m t he upgr ade t akes ,i ti ses s ent i alt o keep t he US AF F 16F or cer el evanti nyear st ocome.
Onemaj orF 16cus t omert hathas n' tchos ent o or dernew ai r cr af tf ormanyyear si si nf actt he US AF .T he l as tmaj ordel i ver i esofF 16st ot he US AFt ookpl acei nt hemi d1990s ;s mal l bat ches havebeendel i ver eds i ncebutonl yamountt o a handf ulever yyear .T he r es ul ti san agei ng f l eetofai r cr af tand,des pi t edel ayst ot heF 35 pr ogr amme,t heAi rF or cehasr es i s t edpr es s ur e t o buyi mpr oved F 15sand F 16s ,pr ef er r i ng t o s pend i t sf undson t he l at es t' f i f t hgener at i on' RESF 16bl as t soutofJ RBF or tWor t hona ai r cr af t ,i nanecho ofi t sor i gi nalr es i s t ance t o AnAF t r ai ni ngmi s s i on ( RobEdgcumbe) pr ocur i ngt heF 16i nt hef i r s tpl ace!
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T hi sear l yF 16C Bl ock25i ss eeni ns er vi ce wi t h t he 162nd F W, Ar i z ona ANG. T he uni ti s r es pons i bl ef ort r ai ni ngANG and AF RC pi l ot st o f l yt heF 16 ( PaulDunn)
A heavi l yl oaded F 16D t ax i esoutatEdwar ds AF Bf oranot hert es ts or t i e( RobEdgcumbe)
S eenont het ax i wayf r om t het oweratEdwar ds AF Bi sF 16C30CF 860359/ ED of t he 416t h F L T S / 412t hT W ( Kevi nWi l l s )
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T he 422nd T es tand Eval uat i on S quadr on at Nel l i sAF B oper at esa s mal lnumberofF 16s i ncl udi ngas i ngl eF 16D,s eendur i ngi t sl andi ng r ol l i nAugus t2008 ( Chr i sWood)
Mai n -F 16A 920407/ ED of t he 416 F L T S pi ct ur ed at Edwar ds AF B Open Hous e i n Oct ober2006i sut i l i s ed f orf l i ghtt es ts uppor t andt es tpi l ott r ai ni ng.F or mer l yoneofabat ch ofembar goedPaki s t ani' PeaceGat eI V’F MS ai r cr af t-s er i al 92738-‘ 407s ubs equent l yf ound i t swayi nt oUS AFs er vi ce ( T om Gi bbons )
Af or mer3247T Sai r cr af t ,N816NA wasf or mer l y 820976wheni nUS AFs er vi ce.T he ai r cr af twas phot ogr aphedondi s pl ayout s i det heL ockheed Mar t i n f aci l i t y at Pal mdal e, Cal i f or ni a, i n Oct ober2006 ( T om Gi bbons )
Ar medwi t hapai rofGBU24/ BPavewayI I I s ,t hi s Edwar ds bas ed F 16D i ss een get t i ng ai r bor ne f r om Nel l i sAF B( PaulF i l mer )
T hi sF 16D Bl ock 50 i soper at ed by L ockheed Mar t i nasat es t bedandal s oachas eai r cr af t .I t wasone oft he f i r s tF 16st os por tt he new F 35 s t yl edar kgr eycol ours cheme ( PaulDunn)
L ef t-Vapourever ywher east hi s4t hF S ,388t hF W,F 16C r epr es ent i ngACC’ sF 16DemoT eam pul l supi n r i ghtondepar t ur ef r om Nel l i sAF Bdur i ng a Red F l ag mi s s i on ( PaulF i l mer ) ; Ri ght-L at ei nt heday,t ( L i nds ayPeacock) T heF 16haspr ovent obear emar kabl es ucces s s t or yovert hel as t40year s ,es peci al l ywheni ti s cons i der ed t hati ti san ai r cr af tt hatt he US AF di dn' tr eal l ywantt o buyi nt he f i r s tpl ace!T he cur r entadvancedver s i onsoft heai r cr af tcl os el y r es embl e t he f i r s t YF 16, and ex t er nal l yt he des i gn has changed l i t t l e overt he year s ,a demons t r at i onofhow,f r om t hes t ar t ,t hedes i gn t eam gott hei rj ob r i ght .Ofcour s e,t he l at es t ver s i onsar eemi nent l ymor ecapabl eandar ea
compl et el ydi f f er entbeas tbeneat ht hes ki n. F or merF 16pi l otKei t h' Ros ey'Ros enkr anzs ums t heai r cr af tupasf ol l ows " T heai r cr af ti sani ncr edi bl ebombi ng pl at f or m, buti n addi t i on t o bei ng a gr eatbomber ,t he F 16i sal s ogr eati nt heai r t oai rar ena.I t spower and manoeuvr abi l i t y make i tt he ul t i mat e ai r t oai rf i ght er .T he onl y cr i t i ci s m oft he F 16
i nt ot hever t i cal atMCASMi r amarAi rS how 2012 ( PaulDunn) ; Cent r e-APaki s t anAi rF or ceF 16Bbanks ,t hi s388t hT F WF 16A r ecei vesgasf r om a KC10A s omewher e overt he wes t er nUS Ai nOct ober1984
hear dt hr ough t he year swast he addi t i on of mor e wei ght , whi ch, of cour s e, meant l es s manoeuvr abi l i t y.As avi oni cs packages wer e ex panded and added t o t he ai r cr af t ,t he s ubs equenti ncr eas ei n wei ghthur tt he j et ' s manoeuvr abi l i t y.Idon' tknow t hatJ ohn Boyd woul d have agr eed wi t ht hat .Buti t ' shar dt o ar guewi t ht hes ucces st heF 16hashadt hr ough t hedecades .Andt hati ss omet hi ngBoydwoul d bepr oudof ,asar eal lt hepi l ot swhohavehad
t hepr i vi l eget of l yt heF 16. " T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankF 16pi l ot sManol i s Kar ahol i s( HAF ) ,Ed Smi t h and Kei t h' Ros ey' Ros enkr anzf ort hei ras s i s t ance wi t ht hi sar t i cl e. L ookoutf ormor ef r om eachoft hem ont heGAR webs i t e s hor t l y. F or mor e det ai l s of F 16 oper at i onsi nDes er tSt or m,s eeRos ey' sexcel l ent book ' Vi per si nt he St or m' ,avai l abl ef r om hi s webs i t e,www. vi per s i nt hes t or m. com
GOVERNMENTFLYI HongKong’ smul t i s ki l l edai r bor net as kf or ce
YI NGSERVI CE
ByPaul Dunn
Avi ew l ooki ngNor t hoverHongKongI s l and,w
Hong Kong i sone oft he wor l d' smos tf amous and i mpor t antci t i es .F ormuch ofi t sr ecent hi s t or y,t her egi onwasaBr i t i s hcol ony,however i n 1997,s over ei gnt y pas s ed t o nei ghbour i ng Chi na.T hi swast hecul mi nat i onofmanyyear sof negot i at i on and pr epar at i on and ended 156
year sofBr i t i s hr ul e.T oday,HongKongi scl as s ed as a ' S peci alAdmi ni s t r at i ve Regi on of t he Peopl e' sRepubl i cofChi na' ;t her ear ecur r ent l y t wo s uch r egi ons ,wi t ht he f or merPor t ugues e col onyofMacaubei ngt heot her .
wi t hKowl oonandt heNew T er r i t or i esbeyond,i l l us t r at i ngt hevar i et yoft er r ai nandl andus e( PaulDunn)
T he mos t endur i ng i mage ofHong Kong i s pr obabl yt hes kys cr aper sofHongKongI s l and;i n f actt he t er r i t or y cover sa much l ar gerar ea, encompas s i ng t he Kowl oon Peni ns ul a and t he New T er r i t or i es .T he t ot all and ar ea i sact ual l y
426 s q mi l es ,wi t h numer ouss mal l ,i nhabi t ed i s l ands .S i gni f i cant l y, much of t he ar ea i s mount ai nous ,r eachi nganel evat i onof958m at T ai MoS hani nT s uenWan,New T er r i t or i es .
A GF SEC155car r yi ngt heembl em oft heHong under s l ung l oad, f or mi ng par t of a f ( Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce)
Asa S peci alAdmi ni s t r at i ve Regi on ( S AR) , Hong Kong enj oys a hi gh degr ee of aut onomyf r om Chi na,wi t hdi f f er encesi n many as pect s of gover nment . F or ex ampl e, i t has i t s own l egals ys t em, cur r ency,pol i ce f or ce and educat i onal s ys t em.Not abl y,however ,t he Peopl e' s L i ber at i onAr myi sr es pons i bl ef ordef ence oft he S ARsand hast r oopsgar r i s oned i n eachoft hem. Dur i ng t he col oni aler a,def ence ofHong Kong wast he r es pons i bi l i t yofBr i t ai n.T he aer i al component of t he Hong Kong Def ence F or ce wasknown ast he Royal HongKongAux i l i ar yAi rF or ce( RHKAAF ) .I n t he 1950s ,t he RHKAAF oper at ed f i ght er ai r cr af ts uch ast he S uper mar i ne S pi t f i r e; overt i me,however ,i t sr ol e evol ved t o become l es s mi l i t ar yi n nat ur e,i ns t ead pr ovi di ngs er vi cess uchasf i r ef i ght i ngand s ear chandr es cue. I n 1984,t he S i noBr i t i s hJ oi ntDecl ar at i on was s i gned, whi ch s t i pul at ed t hat s over ei gnt yofHongKongwoul dt r ans f ert o Chi nai n1997and al s os etoutapat hway f ort hehandover .On1Apr i l 1993,aspar tof t he pr epar at i ons f ort he handover ,t he RHKAAFwasdi s bandedandi t snonmi l i t ar y dut i es wer e as s umed by a new or gani s at i on, t he Gover nment F l yi ng S er vi ce( GF S ) . As i t s name s ugges t s ,t he GF S i sa depar t mentoft he gover nmentofHong Kong.I ti schar ged wi t ha wi de var i et yof mi s s i onsr angi ngf r om medi calevacuat i on t ot act i cal s uppor toft heHongKongPol i ce F or ce.I nor dert oper f or mt hes edut i es ,t he GF Si nher i t ed ani ni t i alf l eetofhel i copt er s andf i x edwi ngai r cr af t ,whi chi ncl udedt he Beech S uper Ki ng Ai r , S i kor s ky S 70 Bl ackhawkand S 76S pi r i t .Al lt hes et ypes wer er et i r ed bet ween 1999 and 2002,i n f avourofmor e moder nai r cr af t ,al t hough t he s er vi ce wi l ls oon embar kon a f ur t her moder ni s at i onpr ogr amme.
gKongS peci alAdmi ni s t r at i veRegi onasan f l ypas t over Hong Kong wat er f r ont
T oday t he GF S oper at es a di ver s ef l eet of ai r cr af t ,i nkeepi ngwi t hi t ss t at usasa mul t i r ol e or gani s at i onwi t havar i et yofmi s s i ons .T her ot ar y el ementoft hef l eetcons i s t soft wot ypes ,bot h ofwhi char e Eur ocopt erdes i gns :t he AS 332L 2 S uper Puma and t he EC155 B1. T he t wo hel i copt ert ypescompl ementeach ot herwel l and have di s t i nct ar eas of s peci al i s at i on, al t hough t her ei ss ome cr os s overi n mi s s i on bet ween t hem.T he mai nf i x ed wi ng ai r cr af ti s t he J et s t r eam 41,wi t h ot hert ypes us ed f or t r ai ni ng. T he s er vi ce hasr oughl y 200 s t af f ,l ed by t he Cont r ol l er ,Capt ai nMi chaelChan.Oft hes e,28 ar e hel i copt erpi l ot s( wi t hr oughl yt he s ame numberofai rcr ewman of f i cer s )and t en f l y f i x edwi ngai r cr af t .I nor dert oi mpr ovef l ex i bi l i t y, t he hel i copt erpi l ot sar e qual i f i ed t of l y bot h t ypes i nt he f l eet .T hi s al l ows t he s er vi ce t o r es pond mor eef f ect i vel ywhencal l ed upont o compl et eat as k,ast het eam i sabl et odeci de whi chhel i copt ert ypet odi s pat chbas edont he r equi r ement s of t he mi s s i on, and ar e l es s cons t r ai nedbycr ew qual i f i cat i ons . F r om i t sbas eont hes out her nedgeofChekL ap KokAi r por t ,t hemi s s i onoft heGF Si st os uppl y24 hourai rs uppor tt ot hegover nmentandpeopl e ofHong Kong.I twor kscl os el y wi t ht he Hong Kong Pol i ce F or ce and F i r e Depar t ment ;t hes e or gani s at i onsar er es pons i bl ef orgener at i ngt he maj or i t yoft as ki ngsf ort hes er vi ce,andt her ear e s ever alcor e mi s s i on cat egor i est hatmake up t hebul koft hes er vi ce' soper at i onal f l yi ng. T hegeogr aphyofHongKong,andi npar t i cul ar t he l ar ge numberoff ai r l yr emot e,i nhabi t ed i s l ands ,meanst hatt hemos tcommoncal l outi s f orcas ual t yevacuat i on( cas evac) .Manyoft he s mal l eri s l andshave l i mi t ed medi calf aci l i t i es and poor t r ans por t l i nks wi t h t he mor e popul at ed r egi ons ,s o a hel i copt ert r ans f ert o hos pi t al i st heonl yf eas i bl eopt i on,par t i cul ar l yi n t he cas e of s er i ous i nj ur y or i l l nes s .F ur t her cas evacmi s s i onsar e al s of l ownt o ai r l i f ts i ckor i nj ur ed cr ew member sf r om ves s el sus i ng t he bus ys hi ppi ngl anesoft heS out hChi naS ea.
Wi t hani l l pat i entonboar d,aGF SS uperPumai smetbyanambul ance oni t sr et ur nt oHongKong ( PaulDunn)
Cas evacmi s s i onsar ecat egor i s ed asA+,A orB;A+i st hemos ts er i ous , wi t ht he mi s s i on bei ng cons i der ed a mat t erofl i f e ordeat hf ort he pat i ent .Cat egor yAi sal s our gent ;bot hA+andAr equi r ear es pons et i me ofunder20mi nut es ,and wi l lgener al l yr es ul ti na pat i entbei ngai r l i f t ed di r ectt oahel i padi n,f orex ampl e,WanChai onHongKongI s l and,and t r ans f er r edt ohos pi t al byambul ancef r om t her e. Cl os el yr el at edt ot hi scas evacr ol ei st hehi ghwayr es cuemi s s i on;t her e ar ef i vehi ghwaysi nHongKongwher ei ti spos s i bl et ol andahel i copt ert o pi ckupani nj ur edper s onf ol l owi ngar oadt r af f i cacci dent .Us eofaGF S hel i copt erwi l lgener al l ymeant hata cas ual t ycanbef l ownt ohos pi t al wi t hi n 5 mi nut es ,dr amat i cal l yi ncr eas i ng t he s ur vi valchancesofa s er i ous l yi nj ur edper s on. T he EC155sar et he nor malchoi ce f ort he cas evac mi s s i on,al t hough undercer t ai nci r cums t ancesaS uperPumamaybechos eni ns t ead.T hi s maybe down t ot he weat her ,wi t ht he l ar ger ,t wo pi l otAS 332bei ng f avour ed i n poorweat hercondi t i ons .I n gener al ,t hough,t he s mal l er EC155i swel l s ui t edt ot her ol e.
Above-T her earc ki t t edoutf orcas ev ex t ens i ve medi car r i ed ( PaulDunn
Ri ght-F l i ghtOpe DaiEvanscoor di n af t err ecei vi ngaca t hemi s s i oni st oev s uf f er i ng ches tpa HongKong' smor e or dert ot r ans por t t ohos pi t al( PaulD
L ef t-A GF Sai rc l ower ed ont ot he dur i ngani ghtt i me ( Gover nmentF l yi n
cabi nofanEC155, evac,i l l us t r at i ngt he di cal equi pment nn)
per at i onsManager i nat est her es pons e cal l out . I nt hi scas e, evacuat eapat i ent pai ns f r om one of r er emot ei s l ands ,i n r thi m mor er api dl y Dunn)
cr ewman of f i ceri s e deckofa ves s el er es cueoper at i on i ngSer vi ce)
T hecockpi toft heAS 332,wi t hea As ni ght vi s i on goggl es ( NVG oper at i ons ,t he cockpi tl i ght i ng compat i bl ewi t ht hei rus e.
Bot h hel i copt ert ypesar e al s o us ed f ors ear ch andr es cuemi s s i ons ,agai n,however ,t heex act ci r cums t ancesoft he mi s s i on on t he day wi l l di ct at ewhi cht ypei sdi s pat ched.T heEC155has as hor t err angeandendur ancet hant heAS 332, s ot endst o be l i mi t ed t os hor t er ,i ns hor eS AR mi s s i ons .T he l ar ger S uper Puma i s mor e appr opr i at ef orl ongr ange S AR,and i sabl et o f ur t her i ncr eas e i t s oper at i onal r ange by r ef uel l i ngononeoft heoi l pl at f or msi nt heS out h Chi naS ea.
I n t he S AR r ol e, t he hel i copt er s can be s uppl ement edbyt hepai rofBAeJ et s t r eam 41s whi chbel ong t ot he GF S .T he J et s t r eamshave good endur ance and ar e f i t t ed wi t h s ur vei l l anceandi magi ngs ys t emst oal l ow t hem t o per f or m ani ni t i als ear choft he s cene when cal l edoutf oraS ARmi s s i on.T heyar et henabl e t oaccur at el ygui det her es cuehel i copt ert ot he l ocat i onofanys ur vi vor s ,r educi ngt heneedf or t he hel i copt ercr ewst os pend t i me s ear chi ng whent heyar r i ve ons cene.T he J et s t r eamsar e
eachpi l othavi ngt wol ar geMF Ds . Gs ) ar e wor n f or mos t ni ght g and di s pl ayshave t o be f ul l y
CaptEmi l yWongdemons t r at est hel i f ej acketands ur vi valves t wor nbyal lGF Scr ewsonoper at i ons ,es s ent i algi venmar i t i me nat ur eofHongKong' senvi r onment .
al s o abl et o dr op i nf l at abl er af t s ,and ot her s uppl i est of ur t heras s i s tr es cueoper at i ons . Whi l s tS AR and cas evac make up t he bul kof GF S oper at i onalf l yi ng,t her e ar e many ot her r ol est hatcr ewsar et r ai nedt oper f or m,s omeof t hem r at her s peci al i s ed. One of t he mor e chal l engi ng oft hes ei st act i cals uppor toft he HongKongPol i ce.Ast heGF Si snotpar toft he pol i ce,ora par ami l i t ar yor gani s at i on,i t scr ews do not t hems el ves car r y weapons , but on
occas i on,ar medpol i ceof f i cer smaybecar r i ed, f or ex ampl e i n s uppor t of ant i t er r or i s t oper at i ons .I nor dert omaket hehel i copt erf l eet l es scons pi cuous ,a gr ey col ours cheme has been adopt ed f ormos tai r cr af t ,wi t h onl yone S uperPuma ( BHRN) s t i l lcar r yi ng t he ear l i er whi t e/ or anges cheme. L ef t-CaptKei t hMadel i ver st hebr i ef i ngt oGF S cr ewsatt he s t ar toft hei rs hi f t .Wi t ha t yphoon appr oachi ng,t her ewasmucht ot al kabout( Al l i magest hi ss pr eadPaulDunn)
Al s oi ncl uded i nt hi si nt er nals ecur i t yr ol ei ss ur vei l l ance,t o det ectand pr eventdr ugt r af f i cki ng,s muggl i ngandmovement sofi l l egal i mmi gr ant s . T hi si sof t enper f or med byone oft he s er vi ce' sJ et s t r eams ;t he ai r cr af t ' s s ophi s t i cat ed i magi ng s ys t emsbei ng i deal l ys ui t ed t ot het as k,wi t ht he ai r cr af tal s ohavi nggood endur anceand a mor ecover tpr of i l et hana hel i copt er .
Above-T heJ et s t r e l ongr anger es cue s ur vei l l ance dut oper at ed and t he r epl aced by a pa Chal l enger605s .
Ri ght-J et s t r eam c
L ef t-T he r earcom J et s t r eam, wi t h vi s i bl e.T hi si ncl ud s ea dye, s moke ai r dr oppabl el i f er
T opl ef t-AGF SJ et a mi s s i ont ot r ack T yphoonUt or .
Al l i magest hi ss pr e
t r eam 41i sus edf or ecoor di nat i onand ut i es . T wo ar e t hey wi l lbe s hor t l y pai rofBombar di er
cockpi t .
ompar t mentoft he S AR equi pment desmar kerbuoys , ke mar ker s and r af t s .
et s t r eam s et souton kt he appr oachi ng
r eadPaulDunn
T he GF Si scal l ed upont o pr ovi de hel i copt er sf orf i r ef i ght i ng,es peci al l y dur i ngt hedr ys eas on.T heAS 332i scapabl eofcar r yi ngal ar gecapaci t y bucketasanunder s l ung l oad;i tcanal s o be f i t t ed wi t ha t ank,whi ch mount sf l us h wi t ht he bel l yoft he ai r cr af t ,when cal l ed upon t o as s i s t f i r ef i ght er s . Onef ur t hers peci al i s edmi s s i ont hatt heGF Si st as kedt oper f or mi saer i al r adi at i onmoni t or i ng.Ont heChi nes emai nl and,i nt heS henz henar ea,j us t t ot henor t heas tofHongKong,i st heDayaBaynucl earpowerpl ant .T he pl antopenedi n1994andwast hes ubj ectofs omecont r over s yi nHong Kong, wher es af et yconcer nswer er ai s edbyt hegover nment . GF Sai r cr af t have been i nvol ved i n moni t or i ng emi s s i onsf r om t he powers t at i on,t o war nofanyhi ghl evel sofr adi at i oni nt heat mos pher eovert heS AR. T he r emai nderoft as ki ngsi nvol ve gener als uppor tf ort he Hong Kong gover nment ,i ncl udi ngs uchr ol esasheavyl i f t i ngandVI Pt r ans por t .I nt he pas t ,s omemor ei nt er es t i ngl oadshavei ncl udedWWI I bombsdi s cover ed dur i ngbui l di ngpr oj ect s !Hel i copt er sandcr ewsal s odepl oyedi nt oChi na t oas s i s ti nr el i efef f or t sf ol l owi ngt heear t hquakei nS i chuani n2008. Cas evacandS ARr emai nt hes er vi ce' sbr eadandbut t er ,t hough,andon anannualbas i st heGF Sper f or msar ound2, 000cas evacmi s s i ons ,al ong wi t hbet ween500and600S ARcal l out s .T hi swor ksoutasanaver ageof ar ounds i xcal l out sever yday;i naddi t i ont ot hi soper at i onal f l yi ng,nor mal t r ai ni ng and checki ng f l i ght smus tal s o be car r i ed out ,meani ng t he s er vi cei skeptver ybus yt hr oughoutt heyear .
Above -CaptEmi l yWong l endss cal et o t he bucket us ed f or f i r e f i ght i ng. S us pended underan AS 332,t he bucket can hol d up t o 3220 kg of wat er ( PaulDunn)
Af t erdonni ng hi sf l yi ng ki t ,t hi sGF S pi l ot s t udi est het as ki ng( r i ght )bef or es et t i ngout on a cas evac f l i ght( l ef t ) . Bot hi mages PaulDunn
F arl ef t-AS uperPumaengagedi nani ght t i me r es cue mi s s i on.F orni ghtoper at i ons , GF S cr ews r out i nel y wear ni ght vi s i on goggl es( Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce)
T he t al l es tbui l di ng i nHong Kong,T wo I nt er nat i onalF i nance Cent r e,f or msa backgr ound t ot hi spai rofGF SS uperPumas ( Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce) Capt ai nT r evorMar s hal li st he Chi efPi l oti nt heGF ST r ai ni ng andS t andar dsS ect i on.I nt hi s r ol e, he i sr es pons i bl e f or ens ur i ngt hatal l GF Spi l ot sar e pr of i ci enti nt he var i ouss ki l l s needed t of ul f i lt hei rmany r ol es . I n addi t i on t o mai nt ai ni ng t he s ki l l soft he cur r entpi l otcommuni t y,t he s ect i onal s o pr ovi dest r ai ni ng f ornewl yqual i f i edpi l ot s ,who ar es pons or ed t hr ough pi l ot t r ai ni ng byt he GF S .Capt ai n Mar s hal l i s one of t he dwi ndl i ng numberofex pat s i nt heGF S ,asheex pl ai ns . " Iwasi nt heRAFf or12year s .I f l ew i n Nor t her nI r el and and al s odi dS ARont heS ea Ki ng and came her ei n 1992,j us t bef or et heGF Swasf ounded. We have f ourorf i ve ex pat s t af fl i ke mys el ft hat have beenher ef oraf ew year s , but mos t of our pi l ot s ar e r ecr ui t ed l ocal l y, and t hey come her e wi t h no f l yi ng ex per i ence.We s end t hem over s east o do a bas i c CPL cour s e wi t h a mul t i engi ne i ns t r ument r at i ng and t hey comebackher eandwes t ar t t heconver s i onpr oces s . " We ar ej us tcomi ng t ot he end ofa s el ect i on pr oces s now. We adver t i s e and we nor mal l y get 34, 000 appl i cat i onsf ort wo t of our cadetpi l otpl acesatt heend ofi t .T he s el ect i on pr oces s t akesabouts i x mont hsand we r un i ti nt er nal l y,s ot hat us esourr es our ces ;ourpi l ot s get i nvol ved wi t h t hat s el ect i onpr oces sever yyear , s oi tkeepsusbus y! "
CaptEmi l yWong i st ypi caloft hi snew gener at i onofGF Spi l ot s .Havi ng gai ned her J AA AT PL ( H)andI Ri nt heUK,s her et ur nedt oHongKongt ocont i nuet hepr oces sof becomi ngaGF Shel i copt erpi l ot . " Uponr et ur ni ngt oGF S ,i tt ookar ound15hour st ogett yper at edont heS uperPuma AS 332L 2.Af t ert hati twascont i nuoust r ai ni ng and upgr ades .I tus ual l yt akesabout ei ghtt ot en year sf ora cadett o become a f ul l yqual i f i ed,day and ni ghtS AR Capt ai n.Al l t hi st r ai ni ngi sdonei nhous ewi t hourt r ai ni ngcapt ai nsandi st ai l or made t opr epar eusf orf l yi ngi nt hechal l engi ngenvi r onmentofHong Kong,aswel l asper f or mi ngt hevas tvar i et yoft ypesof mi s s i ont hatwedo. "
Above-As i ngl eZ L oper at ed byt he pi l ott r ai ni ng.
Ri ght- GF S pi l ot s r es pons et oanem
L ef t-T he mi s s i on GF S headquar t er s ChepL apKokAi r p
Al l i magest hi ss pr e
Z L I NZ 242L ,BHRA,i s GF Sand us ed f or
t s coor di nat et he mer gencycal l out .
n pl anni ng r oom at er s at Hong Kong i r por t .
r eadPaulDunn
Hong Kong r epr es ent sa ver y chal l engi ng envi r onmentf orf l yi ng,wi t h t er r ai nand weat hercondi t i onscr eat i ngpot ent i alhaz ar ds ,es peci al l yf or t hehel i copt erpi l ot s ,asCaptMar s hal l r el at es . " I ti sar el at i vel ys mal l oper at i ngenvi r onment ,onl y25mi l esf r om s out hwes t t onor t heas t ,s oi t ' sacompactar ea,i fyoudon' ti ncl udet heof f s hor ebi t . Peopl et end t ot hi nkofHong Kong asbei ng t hebui l tup ar eas ,whi chi s Hong Kong I s l and and Kowl oon,obvi ous l y,buti tdoesi ncl ude a l otof count r ypar kar eaaswel l , andi t ' squi t emount ai nous . I tgoesf r om s eal evel upt oabout3, 500f t ,andbecaus eoft het r opi cal mar i t i meweat herweget her e,wegeta l otofvar i at i on,dependi ng ont hewi nd di r ect i on,s ot he weat hercanbeCAVOKi nonear eaandf i vemi l esaway,t hecl oudcan beont hedeck.Cr ewshavet obeabl et ocopewi t ht hes evar i at i onsi n weat herwi t hi na s hor ts paceoft i me,par t i cul ar l ywhenni ghtf l yi ng,and t hey' vegott obeawar eoft er r ai ncons i der at i ons . " It hi nkl ocalawar enes sand l ocalar ea knowl edge i si mpor t antf orour guys .Yougett oknow t hear ea,andi tdoeshel p.Oper at i ngof f s hor ei sa di f f er ent mat t er obvi ous l y; we don' t have t er r ai n and obs t r uct i ons pr obl emst her e,buti t ' sadi f f er ents ki l l s et .T hechal l engef orusast r ai ner si s keepi ngever ybodyqual i f i edandcur r enti nal l oft hes edi f f er ents ki l l s et ss o t hatt heycandoal l oft hes et hi ngs ,compet ent l y,s af el yandf ai r l yqui ckl y aswel l . " T hi si smademor ecompl i cat edbyt hef actt hats omeoft hes ki l l sar enot us edr egul ar l yorar eus eds eas onal l y.Cr ewsmus ts t i l l bet r ai nedt oper f or m t hes emi s s i ons ,eveni ft heyar enotcal l edt oper f or mt hem of t en.
" F i r ef i ght i ng i sa good ex ampl e,aswe have a f ai r l y di s t i nct f i r e s eas on t hat r uns f r om S ept embert hr ought oJ anuar yorF ebr uar y-t he dr i erpar t soft heyear .S oyoumayf i nds omeone has n' tdone any f i r ef i ght i ng f ors i x mont hsor mor e and s uddenl yt heyhave t o go outt her e wi t ht hebucketorwi t ht het ankont hebot t om oft heai r cr af tandgoandf i ghtaf i r e.Wehave t o pr epar e t hem i n advance and t r y t o ant i ci pat e t he r equi r ement wi t h s ome appr opr i at et r ai ni ng t o gett hem up t os peed bef or et hef i r ef i ght i ngs t ar t s . " T hi sr egul art r ai ni ngi si naddi t i ont ot hechecki ng whi ch i sr equi r ed by t he r egul at or y aut hor i t y. Wi t h hel i copt er pi l ot s qual i f i ed t o f l y t wo di f f er entt ypes ,t hi sr es ul t si na heavywor kl oad f ort het r ai ni ngdepar t ment . " Wear eover s eenbyt heCAD ( HongKongCi vi l Avi at i on Depar t ment ) ,and f or l i cens i ng we havet odot wopr of i ci encycheckspert ype,s o eachpi l othast odof ourpr of i ci encychecksi n bas ei t emsever yyear .T hati si naddi t i ont oan i ns t r ument r at i ng r eval i dat i on, an i ns t r ument pr of i ci ency check,and r ol e checkson bot h t ypes ,s o youend up wi t h bet ween ei ghtand t en checksperpi l otperyear ,i fyou' r e dual qual i f i ed.Wehaver oughl y28act i vehel i copt er pi l ot s ,s ot hati sr oughl y280checksperyearand al lchecksar e done i nt er nal l ybyourownT REs ( T ypeRat i ngEx ami ner s ) ,ont heai r cr af t ,noton t hes i mul at or . " I n bet ween t hat we have t o do upgr ade t r ai ni ng,par t i cul ar l yf ort henew guys .T heyhave t ogot hr oughl ot sandl ot sofupgr adecour s est o gai nt hes e new s ki l l s et s ,and each oft hes e cour s est akesa coupl e ofmont hst o del i ver , t hent heyhavet ocons ol i dat ef ors i xmont hsor s o.T her ei s n' tmuchr oom t omanoeuvr e! " Mai n-T heAS 332L 2heavyl i f thel i copt er ,al ong wi t hs ome oft he equi pmentus ed f orS ARand cas evacoper at i ons ;L ef t-Awi t hal l GF Sai r cr af t , t hi sJ et s t r eam pr omi nent l ycar r i est he Bauhi ni a f l owerl ogo ofHong Kong oni t snos e;F arl ef tT hi sT wi nS t arDA42NGVIwasr ecent l ydel i ver ed t ot he GF S .I ti scur r ent l yus ed f orpi l ott r ai ni ng, butmayas s umeamor eoper at i onalr ol ei nt he f ut ur e. Al l i magest hi ss pr eadPaulDunn
HongKongi saS peci alAdmi ni s t r at i veRegi onoft hePeopl e' sRepubl i cofChi na;her eaGF SEC155ca cel ebr at eNat i onal Day ( Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce)
car r i est hef l agoft hePRC,dur i ngaf l ypas tt o
T he GF S wor kshar dt o mai nt ai nt he hi ghes t s t andar dsi nal l i t soper at i ons .T oens ur et hatt he or gani s at i on keepsi t spl ace asa wor l d cl as s oper at or ,cl os el i nksar ekeptwi t hot her ,s i mi l ar oper at or s ,asCaptWongdes cr i bes . " We t r yt o keep r el at i ons hi ps bet ween wi t h avi at i onor gani s at i ons , par t i cul ar l yt hos ewhodo S AR,f orex ampl eRAF ,US AF / US N andot herS AR uni tf r om t he mai nl and Chi na.S omet i meswe woul dgot her eandvi s i tt hei rbas es ,ot hert i mes , t heywoul dcomeands t aywi t husf oraf ew days orupt oaf ew weeks ,t ohaveabet t erpi ct ur eof our oper at i ons . Ex changi ng i deas and i dent i f yi ng di f f er ences bet ween peopl e and gr oupi ses s ent i alf orchangeandi mpr ovement t ot akepl ace. " Capt Wong has her s el f benef i t t ed f r om s pendi ng t i me wi t h a var i et y of oper at or s , i ncl udi ng a s ome i nt he UK.T hi shasgi ven her s ome gr eat ex per i ence t o br i ng back t o oper at i onsi nHongKong. " We t r yt os end of fourai r cr ew t o ex t er nal or gani s at i ons ,i foper at i onal commi t ment sal l ow i t .T aki ngmys el fasanex ampl e,myi ni t i al cour s e wasdone over s eas ,t hen appr ox i mat el yf our year saf t erI f i r s tj oi ned,I wass entof ft oS cot l and t of l yf ora commer ci alhel i copt ercompany ( BondOf f s hor eHel i copt er s ) ,oper at i ngovert he Nor t hS eaf oroi lr i gt r ans por tf orei ghtmont hs .I t was a val uabl e ex per i ence as t he weat her condi t i onscoul d be qui t e ex t r eme.I twasal s o benef i ci alf orme t o gai n an i ns i ghton what commer ci al' ai r l i ne'oper at i ons ar el i ke.T wo year saf t er war ds ,Ial s o had t he oppor t uni t yt o vi s i tRAFVal l eyt oobs er vet hei roper at i ons . " T he cour s e Iat t ended atRAFCr anwel li nNov 2013 wasi nt ended f orai r cr ew who have t he des i r et o become ani ns t r uct or .T her e ar e al s o ot her over s eas engagement sl i ke S i mul at or t r ai ni ng and t he under wat ers ur vi valt r ai ni ng, whi chwoul dbedoneonceever ycoupl eyear s . Iwoul ds aywet r yt or eachoutasmuchaswe coul d,j us tt o make s ur et hatwe ar es t i l li nl i ne wi t ht hei nt er nat i onal s t andar d,aswel l asf orour col l eagues ' per s onal gr owt handex pos ur e. "
Above -A S uper cooper at i onbet w T he J et s t r eams ( t op - PaulDunn) wi l ls hor t l y be r epl aced by t wo Bombar di erChal l enger605s( bot t om -Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce) ,whi ch wi l l car r yacol ours chemes i mi l art ot hi sar t i s t ' si mpr es s i on.
T heGF Swi l l s hor t l yent erat r ans i t i onal phas e,wi t hnew ai r cr af tt ypesbei ng del i ver eds oon.T hef i r s tt oar r i vewi l lbeapai rofBombar di erChal l enger 605s ,whi ch wi l loper at ei nt he s ur vei l l ance r ol e cur r ent l yf i l l ed by t he J et s t r eam.Conver t i ng pi l ot st of l yt he new ai r cr af twi l lnotbe eas y,as CaptMar s hal l i sawar e. " T he Chal l engerwi l lbe a r epl acementf ort he J et s t r eam,butt her e wi l l obvi ous l ybe anover l ap,s ot hatt her e wi l lbe no i nt er r upt i oni ns er vi ce bet weent het woai r cr af t .I twi l l beachal l engeaswe' veonl ygott enf i x ed wi ngpi l ot sandt heycan' tf l ybot ht ypesatonce( onei sat ur bopr op,one i sa j et ) ,and we have t ot r yand keep t he s er vi ce goi ng i nt he over l ap per i od. "
rPuma l andson t he deck oft he US S Chaf ee,an Ar l ei gh Bur ke cl as sdes t r oyer ,s ymbol i s i ng t he weent heGF Sandot her ,i nt er nat i onal agenci es( Gover nmentF l yi ngSer vi ce) Af t er t he i nt r oduct i on of t he Chal l enger ,at t ent i on wi l ls wi t ch t ot he hel i copt erf l eet .A r epl acementf orbot hr ot ar yt ypesi sduei nt henex tt hr ee year s ,and t heGF Swi l ls hor t l ydeci dewhatt ype( ort ypes )wi l lbeor der ed, wi t hs ever al opt i onscur r ent l ybei ngcons i der ed. I nt r oduci ng t hes e new t ypeswi l lcer t ai nl yr es ul ti na chal l engi ng per i od f or t he s er vi ce,es peci al l ywhent he new hel i copt erf l eetbegi nst o ar r i ve.T he gover nmentofHongKong,andi ndeedi t sci t i z ens ,havecomet or el yont he GF Sf orvi t al ,of t en l i f es avi ng s uppor t ,i n a ver y demandi ng oper at i onal envi r onment .T hes er vi cei sawor l dcl as spr ovi derofS AR,cas evacandahos t ofot hermi s s i onsand i sundoubt edl ycapabl eofmeet i ng and over comi ng t hes e( chal l enges )i na s af e and ef f i ci entmanner ,pr ovi di ng ex cel l ent avi at i ons uppor ts er vi cesf ormanyyear st ocome.
T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankt hes t af foft heGF Sf ort hei rhos pi t al i t y and as s i s t ance,i n par t i cul arCaptT r evorMar s hal l ,CaptEmi l yWong andCaptEr i kYoung.
MUSEU
AEROESPACI AL
L ocat ed a 40mi nut edr i veawayf r om Ri o deJ anei r o Gal eal oI nt er nat i onalAi r por t ,or30mi nut esf r om t he i coni c Chr i s t t he Redeemer s t at ue, Mus eu Aer oes paci al ' smas s i ves i ngl ef acadecr eat esqui t ea l as t i ngi mpr es s i ononar r i val ,whet heryou’ r ei nt er es t ed i navi at i onornot !St eveComberr epor t sf r om Br az i l .
Backgr ound T he MUS ALAer os pace Mus eum’ scol l ect i on i s cont ai nedwi t hi nonet wos t or eybui l di ngl i nked t oanot herf i vef ur t herhangar shous i ngpos s i bl y t he l ar ges tavi at i on col l ect i on i nt he S out her n Hemi s pher ewi t hatl eas t122ai r cr af tex hi bi t sof 100di f f er entt ypesondi s pl ay. T womor el ar gehangar st ot hewes toft hemai n bui l di ngar ehomet ot her es er vecol l ect i onand ai r f r ames awai t i ng r es t or at i on,i n addi t i on t o ot her l ar ger ai r f r ames whi ch ar e par ked oppos i t et hemus eum hangar s . T he Aer ocl ube do Br az i l was t he f i r s t aer onaut i cal or gani s at i onf or medi nt hecount r y i nOct ober1911.Anai r f i el ds i t ewaschos enand opened i n 1912 named Campo dosAf ons os , meani ngAf ons osF i el d. T he f i r s tBr az i l i an mi l i t ar y avi at i on s choolwas es t abl i s hed atAf ons osF i el d on 2 F eb 1914 i n par t ner s hi pwi t ht heI t al i anar my.Wi t ht heons et ofWor l d War1t he ai r f i el d cl os ed f orpol i t i cal r eas ons ,r eopeni ngon29J anuar y1919,t hi st i me i ncol l abor at i onwi t ht heF r enchMi l i t ar y. T heai r f i el datAf ons ospl ayedani mpor t antr ol e i n t he ear l y pi oneer i ng days of Br az i l i an aer onaut i cs ,and bet ween 1931and 1936t he Gr afZ eppel i n docked atCampo dosAf ons os dur i ngi t ss t opover si nRi odeJ anei r o. T heBr az i l i anAi rF or cecl ai med ex cl us i veus eof t heai r f i el di n1941wheni twasof f i ci al l ynamed Af ons osAi rF or ceBas e. Ent r ance s ecur i t yi st i ghtatt he mus eum gat e wi t h Af ons osAi rF or ce Bas e home t os ever al act i veuni t s :3' / 8' GAvPumaS quadr onwi t hH34 S uperPuma,L 42 & T 25 & 1' / 1'GT T Cor al S quadr onequi ppedwi t hC130E& Hmodel sas wel las t he s ear ch and r es cue var i ant ,t he S C130.AnI nf ant r yBat t al i onoft heBr az i l i anAi r F or ce guar ds t he bas e, and a s quadr on s peci al i s i ng i n r es cue mi s s i ons , Par que de Mat er i alAer onaut i co dos Af ons os ,oper at es wi t h C95,C97,C98,H1H,H50 & H55s .I n addi t i on Af ons osi shome t ot he Br az i l i an Ai r F or ceUni ver s i t y.
T he Cur t i s sC46A Commando,F ai r chi l dC Aer oes paci al ’ sr es er vecol l ect i on.
C82A Packetand t he t wo Dougl asDC3/ C47svi s i bl ei nt he i mage bel ow ar e al lf r om t he Mus eu
T heMus euAer os paci al wascr eat edi nJ ul y1973 butdue t oa l ackofs ui t abl e ex hi bi t i on s pace t hei ni t i al col l ect i onof42ai r cr af twass t or edunt i l t he Ai rF or ce S choolofAer onaut i cst r ans f er r ed f r om Af ons ost oPi r as s ununga i nS 達oPaul o.T he hangarbui l di ngsatAf ons ost oget herwi t hi t s s i gni f i cantavi at i on hi s t or y pr es ent ed an i deal s pacet odi s pl ayt hecol l ect i on,whi chof f i ci al l y openedt ot hepubl i con18Oct ober1976. Vi s i t i ng on bot h days over one weekend, phot ogr aphy pr oved much eas i er on t he S unday wi t hf ewervi s i t or s ,t hough bot h days wer e al mos t des er t ed f or t wo hour s at l uncht i me.
T hebeaut i f ul S ant os DumontDemoi s el l er ep
Onceyou' ves i gnedt hevi s i t orbookatt hemai n ent r ance t ot he mus eum youar ei mmedi at el y i mmer s ed i n an ecl ect i c mi x ofear l y ai r cr af t f r om bot h ci vi l& mi l i t ar y genr es ,i ncl udi ng r epl i cas of S ant os Dumont No 14BI S & S ant os DumontDemoi s el l e. Al ber t oS ant os DumontwasBr az i l ' smos tf amous avi at i on pi oneer .Bor ni n 1873,t he hei rt oa weal t hyf ami l yofcof f eepl ant at i onowner s ,t he f ami l ys ol dt he bus i nes sand moved t o Par i si n 1891.F as ci nat edatanear l yagewi t hal lt hi ngs mechani cal ,S ant os Dumontconcent r at ed on aer onaut i cal s t udy,des i gn&ex per i ment at i oni n Par i s . Al ber t o i ni t i al l yt ook pi l ot ed bal l oon f l i ght s , bef or el ear ni ngt opi l ott hem hi ms el f .I twasnot l ongbef or ehe’ ddes i gnedhi sownbal l oonand f l ew hi sf i r s tai r s hi p-t heBr es i l-i n1898.Overt he nex tei ghtyear shedes i gned and f l ew anot her 11bal l oons . On19Oct ober1901,Al ber t o pi l ot ed hi sai r s hi p Number6f r om t hePar cS ai ntCl oudt ot heEi f f el T owerandbacki nl es st han30mi nut es ,wi nni ng t he Deut s ch de l a Meur t he pr i z e of100, 000 F r ancs .S ant os Dumontgavehal ft hemoneyt o hi sf l i ghtcr ew andt heot herhal ft ot hepoorof Par i s .T hi sges t ur e capt ur ed t he i magi nat i on of hi sowncount r y’ sgover nmentwho i nt ur nal s o mat ched t he pr i z e wi nni ngs . A cel ebr i t y over ni ghtt hr oughoutt hewor l d,hewons ever al mor e pr i z esbecomi ng f r i endswi t h mi l l i onai r es , avi at i onpi oneer sandr oyal t y. S ant os Dumont ’ s i nt er es t s s oon t ur ned t o heavi ert hanai rai r cr af t .On23Oct ober1906he pi l ot ed 14Bi s , wi t h, cr uci al l y, f i x edwheel under car r i age.Hef l ew adi s t anceof60met r es atanal t i t udeofj us tf i vemet r es . S uppor t er sofS ant os Dumontmai nt ai nt ot hi s dayhi scl ai mt hatt he14Bi swast echni cal l yt he f i r s ts ucces s f ulf i x edwi ng ai r cr af tt of l y,ast he Wr i ghtBr ot her sempl oyeddol l yr ai l sands ki dst o t akeof fandl and. What ever your vi ew on t hi s , Al ber t o S ant os Dumontbecame and r emai nsone of Br az i l ’ sf amousf ol kher oes .
T hr eeWACOsofvar i ousmodel sheadedby
pl i cawi t hi t st r ans l ucents ki n.
yt hi sCPFver s i on.
T he wei r d and wonder f ulCaudr on G3 wast he f i r s tai r cr af tt o be s ucces s f ul l yl ooped,waybacki n1913!
S ant os Dumontcr as hedpi l ot i ngaDemoi s el l eon4 J anuar y 1910,whi ch l ed t oi l lheal t h.He r et i r ed f r om t heavi at i onwor l dandevent ual l yr et ur nedt o hi shomecount r yBr az i li n1931.Hi ss ui ci dei n1932 wasnotwi t houtcont r over s yand i ss ai dt o have beenbr oughtonbyhi sdepr es s i onovert heus eof ai r cr af ti nwar f ar ei nBr az i l .S ant os Dumont ’ shear ti s pr es er ved i na s peci alj arand can be f ound on ex hi bi t i on wi t h hi s' t r ademar k'Panama hatwi t hi n t hededi cat edgal l er y. T he f i nalai r f r ame on t he gr ound f l oorwi t hi nt he t wos t or ey bui l di ng i san ex ampl e ofBr az i l ’ sf i r s t pr oduct i onmanuf act ur edi ndi genousai r cr af t ,t he Muni zM7,27ofwhi ch wer e bui l tbet ween 1937 and1941. F i r s tf l oorgal l er i esi ncl udeex hi bi t i onsonear l yf l i ght , S ant os Dumont Gal l er y, t he or i gi ns of Br az i l i an avi at i on i ncl udi ng an or i gi nalpr opel l erf r om t he Gr af Z eppel i n, ex hi bi t i ons on t he Br az i l i an Ai r F or ce’ sWor l d WarI Ii nvol vement ,an ai rt r af f i c cont r ol s ys t ems ex hi bi t i on and t he S moke S quadr on Gal l er y;cr eat ed on 5May1952,Br az i l oper at es t he wor l d’ s s econd ol des t mi l i t ar y aer obat i ct eam.
Above - A va depi ct i ngt hewi de pr es ent ed t o vi s i t o Aer oes paci al .
Ri ght-S por t i ng a Ai rF or ce s i l l verco yel l ow and gr Beechcr af tD17SS eas yont heeye,
L ef t-Br az i l ’ savi at i o woul dex pect ,pl a t hi ss er i es of pa Br az i l i an Ai rF or c ador ned wi t h u par t i cul ar l yni ce.
ar i et y of i mages dear r ayofdi s pl ays s i t or st ot he Mus eu
af et chi ng Br az i l i an ol ours cheme wi t h gr een t r i m, t hi s S t agger wi ngi sver y
t i onher i t age,asyou l aysakeyr ol e,and anel st aken f r om r ce ai r cr af t and uni t mar ki ngs i s
Above -T he Mus euAer oes paci alal s o hous esani mpr es s i ve s el ect i onof aer oengi nes .
Pas s i ng outt hr ough ’ T he Embr aerGal l er y’ ,cat al ogui ng t he s ucces sof Br az i l ’ sownai r cr af ti ndus t r yyouheaddowns t ai r st ot hegr oundf l oorout i nt ot hef i r s toff i vehangar s . As i ngl ewal kwayavenuewi ndsi t swayt hr oughal l f i veandi ss ol ongi t ' snot pos s i bl et os eet ot heot herend atal l !F orbes tphot ogr aphyi ns i deyou' l l need a t r i pod,and wi t h cont r as t i ng l i ght i ng condi t i onsi nt he hangar sI s ugges ti ti sbet t ert ovi s i tonacl oudy,over cas tdayf orbes tr es ul t s .
Above - T he ( S A16A)Al bat r os s Br az i l i anAi rF or ce r es cuer ol ef r om 19
Ri ght-T he Nor t h S abr eondi s pl aya bui l tf ort heWes tG 1956bef or ebei ng i n 1966. I twasr e andar r i vedatt he ex changedeal f or
L ef t-A Ces s na L oper at edbyt heF 1980. T he t ype t hankst ot he USM Pr ogr am,s et up t o pact st ocont ai nt h ex pans i on.
Gr umman G64 s swasus ed byt he ei nt hes ear chand 1958unt i l 1980.
t h Amer i can F 86K att hemus eum was Ger manAi rF or cei n gs ol dt oVenez uel a r et i r ed i nt he 1980s emus eum af t eran oraF ai r chi l dPT 19.
L 19E Bi r d Dog,as F ABf r om 1957unt i l e ent er ed s er vi ce Mi l i t ar yAs s i s t ance t o cr eat es ecur i t y t het hr eatofS ovi et
Ex ampl esoft heGr ummanG44A Wi dgeonandt heL ockheedL 188A El ect r aca bef or et hei nt r oduct i onoft heAl bat r os s .T heEl ect r aondi s pl ayi sPPVJ M,t hef i r s t
T hi s Embr aer P95A Bandei r ant e has onl y r ecent l yj oi nedt hemai ncol l ect i on.
Des i gned by Aer macchi ,t he EMB326 ( AT 26) Xavant ewast hef i r s tj etf i ght ermanuf act ur edi n Br az i l ,underl i cens ebyEmbr aer .
canbef oundal ongs i deoneanot her .T heWi dgeonwasus edbyt heBr az i l i anAi rF or cei nt heS ARr ol e s tex ampl eoft het ypet obedel i ver edt ot het hennat i onal ai r l i ne,VARI G.I ts er vedf r om 1962unt i l 1991.
T he Br az i l i an Ai rF or ce oper at ed t he Ces s na T 37C Dr agonf l yi nt he t r ai ni ng r ol e bet ween 1968& 1981.T hi si soneofi t s65ex ampl esus ed.
T he Embr aerEMB314A ( A29)S uperT ucano i s s t i l l us edbyt heBr az i l i anAi rF or cef oravar i et yof s ur vei l l anceandat t ackmi s s i ons .
Nos esoff i ght er( F 8)andt r ai ner( T 7)ver s i onsoft heGl os t erMet eorcanbes eenont hel ef ts i deoft hi ss h
T hi sF ougaCM170( T 24)Magi s t erwasoper at edbyt heBr az i l i anAi rF or ce’ sS mokeS quadr onbet ween
s hot .
n1969and1974.
Above-T heCons ol i dat edPBY5A Cat al i nawasus edi nF ABs er vi cebet ween 1943and1982asamar i t i mepat r ol ai r cr af t . Bel ow -T heHawkerS i ddel eyHS 125( VU93)i sus edbyt heBr az i l i anAi rF or cei n a var i et yofr ol esi ncl udi ng VI Pt r ans por tand i nt hecal i br at i onofnavi gat i on s ys t ems .T het ypef i r s tent er edF ABs er vi cei n1968.
Ar ar eex ampl eofaDougl asA20Havoc.Des pi t et hef actt hatal mos t7, 500wer eb t hatonl yar ound15s ur vi vet oday,wi t har oundhal foft hem underr es t or at i on,i ncl u bebei ngr et ur nedt oanai r wor t hycondi t i onwi t hs epar at eor gani s at i onsi nt heUS .
Ri ght-T heDas s aul ani mpor t antt ype F or ce. I nt he f or e I I I EBR( F 103D)F AB Wor l d Champt i o Ayr t on S enna f l ew ai r cr af ti n Mar ch wr i t i ng under commemor at est h t wos eatvar i anti s F AB4913.T heMi r a s uper s oni ct ype t o and i na r ange 1972and2005.
L ef t-T he AMX wa cooper at i on be Aer macchi and and a s ubs t ant i a act i ve wi t ht he F A i ncl udi ngai rcomb andr econnai s s anc
bui l t ,i ti sbel i eved l udi ngt wos ai dt o S .
ul tMi r agehasbeen ef ort heBr az i l i anAi r r egr ound i sMi r age AB4904.F or mul a1 t i on and l egend wi nt hi spar t i cul ar h 1989. T he yel l ow r t he canopy t hi sf act . Pas tt he i ss i ngl es eatF 103E i r ageI I Iwast hef i r s t t os er ve wi t hF AB, ofr ol esbet ween
wasbor ne outofa et ween Aer i t al i a, Br az i l ’ s Embr aer , i alnumberr emai n F AB t oday i nr ol es bat ,gr oundat t ack nce.
Above-T heF ABus edt heCur t i s sP40NWar hawkf orcoas t al pat r ol unt i l 1945, af t erwhen t he t ype wasut i l i s ed i nt he t r ai ni ng r ol e. Beyond t he P40 i s Republ i c P47D T hunder bol t4419662. T hi sai r cr af tf l ew 93 mi s s i onsdur i ng Br az i l ’ s‘ Campai gnofI t al y’wi t h2ndL t .J os eRabel oMei r adeVas concel l os , F i r s tGr oupF i ght erAvi at i onatt hecont r ol s .
I nex ces sof75, 000vi s i t or spas st hr ought hemus eum annual l y,t hehi ghl i ghtofwhi chwi t houtdoubt i st heF ockeWul fF W 58B( bel ow) ,t heonl yex ampl et obef oundanywher ei nt hewor l d.
Des pi t eemai l r eques t st ovi s i tt her es er vecol l ect i onandai r f r amesawai t i ngr es t or at i onpr i ort omy vi s i ti twasnotpos s i bl e-agr eatpi t yasf ew i fanyar t i cl eshaveappear edi noverf ourdecades . Br az i l ’ sMus euAer os paci al col l ect i onr emai nsasel us i ve& mys t er i ousasever . Ar ecent l ydonat ed F 104S t ar f i ght erf r om t he I t al i an Ai rF or ce i snow on s how,butofnot abl e abs ence-ei t herawai t i ngr es t or at i on,r es our cesoravai l abl emus eum s pace-amongs tot her sar e aBoei ngB17G F l yi ngF or t r es s ,S epecatJ aguarGR1XX757,P47D' D5' ,J unker sJ u523m andaDe Havi l l andDH82AT i gerMot h;amaz i ngl yt heMus euAer os paci al i sgoi ngt oneedabi ggerbui l di ng!
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T he Mor ane S aul ni erMS 760 ( C41)Par i swas anot hert ype t of ul f i la numberofF AB r ol es i ncl udi ng t r ai ni ng,phot or econnai s s ance and hi ghs peedt r ans por t .
T hi sNor t h Amer i can T 6T ex an,F AB 1559,was f l own by t he l at e Commanderoft he S moke S quadr on, Ai r man Col onel Ar t hur Ant oni o Br aga,r ecor dhol derf orhour sont het ype.
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t he Bas e Real i gnmentAnd Cl os ur e( BRAC)commi s s i on’ sl at es tr ound of mendat i onsbecamel aw i nNovember2005i taf f ect ed manyAi rNat i onal uni t s ,notl eas tt he186t hARW andi t sf l eetofei ghtKC135RS t r at ot anker s .T hi s edmanyobs er ver sf oranumberofr eas ons .Kevi nJ acks onr epor t s .
T heBRAC l aw di ct at edt hatt he186t hwoul dr el i nqui s h i t s ai rr ef uel l i ng r ol e and t he KC135s woul d be r edi s t r i but ed t o ot hert ankeruni t si nmor ef avour abl e l ocat i onst o enabl e qui ckerover s easdepl oyment s . T hi s ,des pi t et hef actt hatt heuni t ’ sbas eatKeyF i el d, on t he wes t er n edge ofMer i di an,Mi s s i s s i ppi ,boas t s one of onl y f our f ul l mot i on KC135R s i mul at or s t hr oughoutt he ANG and Ai rF or ce Res er ve and a f aul t l es shi s t or y ofoper at i ng t he S t r at ot ankers i nce 1992-and not f or get t i ng t he hi s t or i c connect i on of Mer i di ant ot hepi oneer sofai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng.
AHi s t or i cAi rRef uel l i ngConnect i on KeyF i el di t s el fowesi t snamet oahi s t or i cavi at i onf eat i n 1935 t hat pi oneer ed t he concept of ai r t oai r r ef uel l i ng.At1232l ocal t i meon4J une,br ot her sAl and F r ed Key l i f t ed of ff r om t he gr as ss t r i p ofMer i di an’ s ai r por ti n an ef f or tt o br eak t he wor l dr ecor df or s us t ai ned f l i ght .T he br ot her s devi s ed a wor kabl e met hod ofai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng i nor dert o at t emptt hi s f eat . T her ecor dt heyes t abl i s hedi nt hei rs t agger i ng27days al of t ,t ot al l i ng653hour s34mi nut es ,r emai nsunbr oken i nconvent i onal f l i ght .Whent heyl andedat1806l ocal t i me on 1 J ul yt hey wer e gr eet ed by a cr owd of bet ween30, 000and40, 000f ans .T heMer i di anai r por t wasr enamed“KeyF i el d”i nt hei rhonour . T he br ot her sf l ew anes t i mat ed 52, 320mi l es ,ort wi ce t hedi s t ancear ound t heear t h,atanaver ages peed of 80 mph. T he engi ne i n t hei r Cur t i s s Robi n Monopl ane,t he“Ol eMi s s ” ,hadmades ome61mi l l i on r evol ut i ons .S ome 300gal l ons( 1, 135l i t r es )ofoi lwas us edandt heycons umed6000gal l ons( 22, 712l i t r es )of f uel .F l yi ngi ns hi f t s ,t hebr ot her smai nt ai nedt heai r cr af t bywal ki ngonacat wal kt hatwentar oundt hes i desof t heengi ne. T heKeybr ot her s ’f l i ghtpr ovedt hatai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng wor ked,wi t ht heabi l i t yt or emai ni nf l i ghtl i mi t ed onl y byt heendur anceoft hef l i ghtcr ew andt hes t r uct ur al andmechani cal s t abi l i t yoft heai r cr af t . T heU. S .Ai rF or cehascont i nuedt or ef i neandi mpr ove ont hi sbas i cpr i nci pl et hatwaspi oneer edandpr oven i nMer i di ani n1935.
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T heKeybr ot her sar eal s oamongt hef ounder sof186t h’ spar entuni t ,t he153r d Obs er vat i onS quadr on, T hi swasMi s s i s s i ppi ' sf i r s tAi rNat i onal Guar duni tandoneoft hef i r s t13i nt heUni t edS t at es .T heuni tbeg andat act i cal r econnai s s ancemi s s i on.S i ncet hatt i me,t heuni thasf l ownmanydi f f er entt ypesofai r c S pi t f i r eMar kV,Republ i cP47,L ockheedRF 80,Republ i cRF 84T hunder f l as h,McDonnel l Dougl asRF 10 RF 4C Phant om I I .
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F ai r chi l dRC26BMet r ol i ner T he 186t h Ai r Ref uel i ng Wi ng al s o oper at esanRC26Bai r cr af t ,modi f i edt o conducti nt el l i gence,s ur vei l l ance and r econnai s s ance mi s s i onsi nt he USand over s eas .Athome,t he RC26s uppor t s l ocal , s t at e and f eder al l aw enf or cementagenci esi n count er dr ug ef f or t swhi l e over s easmi s s i onsi ncl ude i mager ycol l ect i ont as ki ngsf orcombat commander s .T he RC26 pr ogr amme has wor ked di r ect l y wi t h l aw enf or cement agenci es s i nce 1996 pr ovi di ng t he Nat i onalGuar d wi t ha uni que capabi l i t yt o bat t l et he i l l egal nar cot i cst r ade.T he RC26 i smanned f ul l t i me and t he pr ogr amme i s managed t hr ough t he Mi s s i s s i ppi Nat i onal Guar d Count er dr ug Coor di nat or ' sof f i ce i nconj unct i onwi t h ot her count er dr ug pr ogr ammes t hat as s i s t communi t i es and t he nat i on t hr ough t he Gover nor ' s Count er dr ug S t at ePl an.
Pr oj ectL i ber t y I twasi npar tdue t ot hi sex per t i s et hat t he wi ng j umps t ar t ed t he br and new MC12‘ Pr oj ectL i ber t y’t r ai ni ng mi s s i on. T he t r ai ni ng pr ogr amme began i n ear nes ti n Oct ober 2008 when t he Nat i onalGuar d Bur eau cont act ed t he bas el eader s hi p aboutt he pos s i bi l i t yof ut i l i s i ng Mer i di anbas ed cr ew member s who pos s es s ex t ens i ve i nt el l i gence, s ur vei l l ance and r econnai s s ance ( I S R) ex per i ence i n a s i mi l ar ai r cr af t ,t he RC26,t ot r ai nact i vedut yavi at or s . Pr oj ect L i ber t y was t he code name gi vent ot heaccel er at edpr ogr ammet o acqui r e and f i el d 37 Beechcr af t MC12W ai r cr af tt obol s t ert hemanned I S R mi s s i on s uppor t i ng oper at i onsover I r aqandAf ghani s t an.
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t heF ai r chi l d RC26BMet r ol i ner .T heai r cr af thave onnai s s ancemi s s i ons uppor tt ovar i ousagenci es eUni t edS t at esCoas t guar d( US CG)andCus t oms
p ear l y10 J une 2012 br i ngi ng t o end anot her ,MS .T heai r cr af theadedt oBeal eAi rF or ceBas e, el l i gence,s ur vei l l ance and r econnai s s ance ( I S R)
S peaki ng t oL t .Col .Br adl ey Cr awf or d,t he 186t hARW Ex ecut i ve Of f i cer ,i near l y2009,he s pel touthi st hought sont het hennew mi s s i on: “It hi nkourex per i encewi t ht heRC26mi s s i on overt he l as tf ew year shad s omet hi ng t o do wi t h get t i ng t he MC12W mi s s i on her e.Ever s i ncewewer e‘ BRACed’i n2005t hel eader s hi p her e att he 186t h,oft he MSNat i onalGuar d and t he pol i t i call eader s hi p aswel last he Nat i onal Guar dBur eau,havebeenwor ki ngt o f i ndami s s i on,nott os ayt hatt hi si st hemi s s i on, buti twascer t ai nl yont het opoft hei rs hor t l i s tt o f i nds omet hi ngt ocomeher e. “OurRC26cr ewshavebeenpr of i ci entatt hi s mi s s i onf ora numberofyear sand had made depl oyment st oS OCOM ( S peci alOper at i ons COMmand) and t o CENT COM ( CENT r al COMmand)s ot heex per i encel eveli shi ghs o I ’ ms ur et hathadal ott odowi t hi t . “Al t hough t heyar ef ami l i arwi t ht he MC12’ s mi s s i on,ourguyshave had t o go t hr ough a t r ans i t i oncour s ef ort heMC12t ol ear nhow t o f l yi tast heyf ami l i ar i s et hems el veswi t ht henew ai r cr af t .T hent heyver yqui ckl yneed t oappl y t hems el vest ot hemi s s i onqual i f i cat i ont r ai ni ng oft he new s t udent s ,who wi l lal r eady know how t of l yt heC12ai r f r amebutwi l l needt obe t r ai ned t ooper at easa cr ew and t ooper at e t heI S Requi pment . ” F r om ear l y2009unt i l2012KeyF i el d member s t r ai nedover1, 200i ndi vi dual swhoi mmedi at el y putt hos es ki l l st owor kbydepl oyi ngt oI r aqand Af ghani s t an.However ,once t he i ni t i alcadr e ofcr ewshad been t r ai ned and depl oyed i t was deci ded t o cons ol i dat e al l CONUS MC12W oper at i onsatBeal eAF Bi nCal i f or ni a, and once agai nt he 186t h ARW f ound i t s el f hunt i ngf oraf l yi ngmi s s i onatKeyF i el d.
T hr eeU.S .Ai rF or ceC27JS par t anmi l i t ar yt r ans por tai r cr af tf r om t heMi s s i s s i ppi ,Ma Gr een,Ohi o,3November2012.T heai r cr af twer ebei ngpr epar edt os uppor tt her e t hef i r s teverC27JDomes t i cOper at i ons or t i es( U.S.Ai rF or cePhot obyT ech.Sgt .R
Ent ert heSpar t an I n 2011, wi t h t he KC135 S t r at ot anker and MC12W f l yi ng mi s s i on l eavi ng Key F i el d,t he 186t hAi rRef uel i ng Wi ng waschos ent of l yt he Al eni a/ L 3Communi cat i onsC27Jt act i calai r l i f t ai r cr af tand pr ovi de t he mi s s i on qual i f i cat i on t r ai ni ngf oral l s er vi cemember s .T heai r cr af twas s el ect ed ast he J oi ntCar go Ai r cr af t( J CA)f or t heUni t edS t at esmi l i t ar y.Al t hought hepl anwas f ort he i ni t i alor derf or38C27J st o be ent i r el y oper at ed byt he Ai rNat i onalGuar df ordi r ect
s uppor toft he Uni t ed S t at esAr my,t odaybot h Ar myNat i onalGuar d and Ai rNat i onalGuar d f l i ghtcr ewss uppor tt hef i el di ngoft heai r cr af t . T he Ai rF or ce t ol d Key F i el d of f i ci al si twoul d es t abl i s haC27Jt r ai ni nguni tmi s s i ont hatwoul d br i ng t wo addi t i onalpl anest o Mer i di an i nt he nex tf ew year s ,i ncr eas i ngt het ot al t os i x .142MS ANG per s onnelwoul d be as s oci at ed wi t ht he mi s s i on by 2015 wi t ha f ur t her200 per s onnel
ar yl andandOhi oAi rNat i onal Guar dawai tcar got obel oadedont heAkr onCant onRegi onal Ai r por t , r el i efef f or t soft heNew Yor kNat i onal Guar di nBr ookl yn,NY,f ort hevi ct i msofHur r i caneS andy.Mar ki ng t .Ri char dL .Smi t h)
r ot at i ngt hr ought hebas ef ort r ai ni ng.
AboutF ace S hor t l yf ol l owi ng t he f i r s tdel i ver i est o KeyF i el d and t he t ype’ s f i r s t domes t i c r es pons e depl oyment ,i ns uppor toft heHur r i caneS andy r el i efef f or ti n November2012,t he 186t h ARW wasonceagai nas kedt ocl os edownami s s i on
and f l yt he C27J si nt os t or age af t ert he U. S . Depar t mentofDef ens e announced pl anst o r emove al l38C27J sonor derf r om t he U. S .Ai r F or ce' si nvent or y,bas edonex ces si nt r at heat r e ai r l i f tf or ce s t r uct ur e and budget ar ypr es s ur es . T hehuntwas ,onceagai n,onf oraf l yi ngmi s s i on f ort heuni t ,butopt i onswer ef as tr unni ngout .
St r at ot ankerRet ur ns Col .F r ankl i n Chal k,commanderoft he 186t h ARW up unt i lNovember2013,wasi nf l uent i ali n t he pus ht o keep a f l yi ng mi s s i on atKeyF i el d t hr oughoutt heupheaval soft heBRAC deci s i on t or emove t he l ongs t andi ng f l eetofKC135s , t hes hor tMC12W t r ai ni ngmi s s i onandt heeven s hor t erC27Jt r ai ni ngmi s s i on. Al ongs i de nat i onaland s t at er epr es ent at i ves , l eader soft he Mi s s i s s i ppiNat i onalGuar d,and l ocall obbyi nggr oups ,Col .F r ankl i nhass ecur ed t her et ur noft heKC135Rt oMer i di an.T hef i r s tof ei ghtS t r at ot anker s ,T ai lnumber571486,ar r i ved atKeyF i el don10J une2013f r om t he121s tARW, Ohi o ANG,and byt he end ofS ept embert he
186t hwasbacki nt heai rr ef uel l i ngbus i nes s . " We wi l lbe t r ans i t i oni ng pi l ot sback f r om t he C27 S par t an pl anes and t he MC12s and get t i ngt hemai nt enancecr ewsupt os peedon t het anker s , "Col .Chal ks ai d." S i ncewel os tt he t anker st he mai nt enance cr ews have been pr et t ys t agnantbecaus e pr i vat ef i r msdi dt he mai nt enanceont heC27s . " " T he KC135i sgoi ng t o be i nt he i nvent or yf or many,manymor eyear s , "cont i nuedCol .Chal k. " Andbas i cal l yt hebas ewasdes i gnedasanai r r ef uel i ngwi ngbas e.Andwe' r egl adt ogetback i nt ot hatmi s s i on. "
Abr aceof186t hARW Mi s s i s s i ppi ANG KC135Rss i ts i debys i deont heKeyF i el dr amp ( Kevi nJ acks on)
F l yi ngandMai nt ai ni ngt heKC135R Backi nMar ch2009t heaut horf l ew wi t ht he186t hARW onat wos hi pKC135Rl ocal t r ai ni ng mi s s i on.L t .Col .Ri chGaddi sdes cr i best hemi s s i onobj ect i vesandT S gt .J oeyWat s ongi vesa mai nt ai ner ’ sper s pect i veofkeepi ngt hef i f t yyear ol dKC135smi s s i onr eady: Gaddi si soneoft henucl eusoff ul l t i meGuar ds menwhokeept hedayt odayoper at i ons r unni ng.“S omeofourt r adi t i onal guar ds menpi l ot sar eai r l i neempl oyeeswhoonl ygett of l y t hi sai r pl aneonceort wi ceamont hs oourmai ndayt odayoper at i onsar et ai l or edt oget t hepr act i cet heyneed,s ot hati fwor s tcomest owor s twe’ r epr of i ci entenought odr op ever yt hi ngandr eactt oanyemer gencys cenar i os . ”
24Mar chMi s s i onObj ect i ves : “ T her e wer e mul t i pl el ayer s oft r ai ni ng event st o achi eve yes t er day. ” T heRecei ver s ’t r ai ni ngevent s : “T he F 15 s chool hous e atT yndal lAF B;t hey have an ai r r ef uel l i ng t r ackt hatt heyus epr i mar i l yf ordi f f er entt anker st o come i n.We had t hr ee F 15syes t er dayt hatneeded a l i t t l e pr act i ce,f i r s tt of i nd t he t ankerand s af el yj oi n up on t he t ankers ot hey coul d gett hei rgas .T wo oft he F 15shad s t udent si nt he f r onts eatwi t hi ns t r uct or si nt he back.T he s t udent shaveaver yl i mi t edex pos ur edur i ngt hei rs yl l abust o pr act i s er ef uel l i ng.T henex tt i met heyhi tat ankercoul dbeat t hei rf i r s tas s i gnedbas eandt heywi l l havet ogett hatgas .S o t heyhavet obepr of i ci entenoughatARpr ocedur esear l yon i nt hei rcar eer s . ”
Kevi nJ acks on
T het ankercr ew’ st r ai ni ngevent s : “F orourt r ai ni ngevent swehadt wopar t t i mer sf r om var i ousbackgr oundswhoneeded t ocomei nand t opupt hei rpr of i ci encyt r ai ni ng. “Wehadt wot anker st oget her ,s o,f l yi ngf or mat i on, t hats t epsupourpul s eal i t t l ebi tbecaus ewedon’ t dot hatever yday.Wedoi tonceort wi ceaweekas auni tandt hatwasouroppor t uni t yyes t er day,and asmanyr adi oswehave-andal lt hati sgoi ngonaddsacompl ex i t yt oi t . “I nbet weenourr ef uel l i nganduss epar at i ngf ort he r et ur nl eg,wehadonemor eobj ect i ve,ourt act i cs . Wedon’ tof t engett opr act i s eourownr endez vous onanot hert anker .Wet ookt ur nswher eonet anker woul ds etup i na s peci f i ed or bi tand t he ot her t ankerwoul d getf arenoughawayyoucoul d not s ee hi m and t hen t hey woul d el ect r oni cal l y and vi s ual l yr ej oi n on t he ot hert anker .Doi ng t hatat 400mph atdi f f er entangl es ,and ass l ow asour ai r pl ane t ur ns means pr act i s i ng t hi sr egul ar l yt o r ef r es h our own s ki l l s at accompl i s hi ng t hat manoeuvr et o gett o wher e we want ed t o be, whi ch i s abouta mi l es epar at i on,whi ch i st he nor mal di s t ancewef l yi nf or mat i on. “Oncewehaddonewi t ht hef or mat i ont r ai ni ngwe coul dt hen go and pr act i s es ome appr oach wor k andt ouchandgosi ndi vi dual l y. “S ot hos et hr ee par t s :t he r ef uel l i ng,t he t act i cal f l yi ng and r ej oi ns and comi ng back f ors ome pat t er nwor k. “Once t he cr ew f ort hatmi s s i on i ss ol i di f i ed,we’ l l t akeal ookatwhatt r ai ni ngr equi r ement st heyneed t or emai n pr of i ci ent .F ori ns t ance on yes t er day’ s f l i ght ,ChuckMcQueenneeded Aut oPi l otof f ,and wever ys el dom doaut opi l otof fwi t hf i ght er sbuthe handf l ew t hewhol epat t er nwi t hal l t hr eer ecei ver s s ot hat i ft he aut o pi l ot everf ai l s he can s t i l l compl et et hemi s s i ons af el y. ” Mai n-Capt ai nandcopi l otbr i ngt heKC135t ol i f e asf ourot herex ampl eswat ch on; Ri ght-Once ai r bor ne, t he boom oper at or i sr es pons i bl e f or r ecor di ngdet ai l soft her ecei ver sandf uel del i ver ed; F arr i ght-Anot herF 15i scl ear edt ocont act .
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