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Train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 fighter pilots Jan. 22, 2016
Vol. 16, No. 3
INSIDE
STORIES
MLK Day, 3
ALS grads, awards, 4
AETC releases plan, 5
Bio-med folks get props, 6
Base supply center, 7
FEATURE
Airman 1st Class Ridge Shan Different paint schemes and electronic countermeasure pods allow the aircraft to replicate various enemy aircraft on the stu-
dent pilots’ radars. The 64th Aggressor Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon jets prepare to taxi Jan. 7 at Luke Air Force Base. Mem-
FLIGHTLINE FEAST FEEDS 300 bers of the 64th AS and 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron arrived Jan. 4 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to provide red air
See Page 16 support for the 310th B-course pilots. They leave today. For more photos, see Page 10.
INDEX Aggressors assist 310th B-course students
Action line ............................. 2 Story and photos by Airman debriefed on where and what to look for measure pods which make our aircraft
Briefs..................................... 3 PEDRO MOTA as well as what types of weaknesses they replicate variations of enemy aircraft on
Spotlight ................................ 4 could have exploited. the student pilots’ radars. The ECM pod is
Diversions ........................... 20 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs part of the advisory threat package and is
Sports.................................. 23 “Our pilots are trained to fly and fight the not a common configured pod used by the
The 64th Aggressor Squadron and 57th same way as our adversaries,” said Master U.S. Air Force.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Nellis Sgt. Samuel Brandt, 57th AMXS production
Air Force Base, Nevada, provided red air superintendent. “When they are out there The way they conduct their mission is
“It’s not too much to ask a leader support for the 310th Fighter Squadron B training the student pilots they are able the same as every other F-16 unit as far
to make an effort to motivate those course student pilots Jan. 4 through today to get them spun up on the most realistic as maintenance, Brandt said.
around him. Honesty and enthusiasm at Luke Air Force Base. training possible.”
are both contagious and play a huge “Because of the different looking jets and
role in motivating others. A leader “Red air basically means we played as In addition to the special adversary train- the business they do, a little friendly rivalry
must also follow. There are very few the bad guys in different scenarios for two ing, the 57th Wing provided their own line develops between units,” he said.
people in leadership positions who weeks,” said Airman 1st Class Derek Nie- of special F-16 aircraft to assist the 310th
don’t answer to someone else. ” derer, 57th AMXS crew chief. “The scenarios B-course students. “Getting the 310th B course students the
included penetrating enemy airspace with best possible chance at success is our mis-
Lt. Col. Matthew Warner enemy aircraft in the area and air-to-air “These F-16s have various paint schemes sion for now,” Brandt said. “Supplementing
310th Fighter Squadron battles.” to look as if they are enemy aircraft for their mission program ensures they reserve
more realistic scenario training,” Niederer accurate advice, identify threats and learn
WEATHER After a day’s training, the pilots are said. “We also have electronic counter- how to defeat them.”
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