Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 4-29-16
P. 1
Train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 ghter pilots April 29, 2016
Vol. 16, No. 17
INSIDE Ducks graduate newest fighter pilots ...
STORIES Courtesy photo FROM LEFT: 1st Lts.
Thunderbolt changes, 3 Chad Roberson and
ALS grads, 4 Elliott England, Capt.
309th graduation, 6 Scott Eldredge, 1st Lts.
Wounded warrior, 7 Anthony Garlisi, Sean
Passions vs. priority, 19 Robere and Josh Smith,
INDEX Capts. Zach Thompson
and John Hadjis, and 1st
Action line ............................. 2 Lts. Jimmy Graves and
Briefs..................................... 3 Johsua Caudill, and Capt.
Spotlight ................................ 4 Brannan Studley gradu-
Diversions ........................... 16 ate today from class 15-
Sports.................................. 19 BBC.
Look for the first monthly F-16 pilots learn to fight at night
edition of Thunderbolt
May 6 in its usual place by Airman 1st Class tions have proven successful in numerous ation may occur,” Blauser said.
Questions? RIDGE SHAN engagements such as the war on terror In order to mitigate the amount of
Call 623-856-5998 and the con icts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Today’s night training takes the experience disturbance night ying might cause for
gleaned from past con icts and combines local communities, pilots who y at night
Student pilots at Luke Air Force Base are it with advanced modern technology and a use changed ight patterns and practice
learning important skills and combat tac- thorough training regimen in order to craft locations.
tics essential to ying and ghting at night. capable and well-rounded pilots.
“We use noise abatement techniques and
Training to master nighttime operations “Night vision goggles, infrared pointers draw our training away from surrounding
enables a pilot to utilize a vast set of tools and consistent night training ensure we communities as much as we can,” Blauser
and strategies to increase their lethality in own the night now,” Gaetke said. “Training said. “We try to practice our approaches
combat situations. with these systems allow us to maintain away from Luke whenever the opportunity
pro ciency and not forfeit the night to the presents itself.”
“Night ying requires more detailed at- other side.”
tention,” said Maj. Michael Blauser, 310th Gaetke said that, despite the possibility
FS director of operations. “It requires rep- Night training occurs in two blocks of noise, night ying is essential to training
etition and practice which ensures you’re during the eight-month training cycle of combat-ready war ghters.
pro cient as well as safe. Your ability to y student pilots in the 310th FS. Each block
during the day is not a transferable skill to lasts between two and four weeks. “It is absolutely crucial to maintain
the night.” night training,” he said. “We can’t win for
Blauser said the training is based on a our country if we’re limited to ghting in
While nighttime air combat operations crawl, walk and run mentality. the day.”
are a crucial aspect of current U.S. military
doctrine, this wasn’t always the case. The rst block introduces the pilots to The instructors of the 310th know that
proper use of night vision goggles, basic preparedness means being ready at all
“During the Vietnam War, the enemy night ying, single-ship instrument ying, times, which is why they teach their stu-
owned the night,” said Lt. Col. Matthew tactical intercepts, and basic nighttime air- dents to y regardless of how dark it is
Gaetke, 56th Operations Support Squadron to-air combat techniques. The second block outside.
director of operations and F-16 Fighting teaches them advanced nighttime air-to-air
Falcon pilot. “Thousands of pounds of sup- and air-to-ground combat techniques that “In order to train the world’s greatest
plies moved through infiltration routes simulate the types of engagements they F-16 pilots, we teach our students to oper-
to insurgents in South Vietnam because might face today. ate day or night, under any weather condi-
we were unable to effectively interdict at tion, no matter what happens in order to
night.” “We never know when the call is going get the mission done,” Blauser said. “We
to come or what time of day a combat situ- need to make sure they are prepared for
Since then, nighttime air combat opera- everything.”
Go to luke.af.mil for Luke Facebook link Use your smartphone to
connect to our website!
