Attention F-111 fans!

Jeff

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AIR COMBAT GROUP HEAD TO THE UNITED STATES FOR EXERCISE

CPA 237/04      Monday, 18 October 2004

Hundreds of personnel, four F-111 strike aircraft and six F/A-18 Hornet
fighter aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group
will deploy over the next few days to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada,
United States of America, to take part in the United States Air Force
advanced air combat training exercise called Red Flag.

Exercise Red Flag will involve 250 personnel and is an excellent
opportunity for the Royal Australian Air Force's F-111 and F/A-18 air
and ground crews to hone their skills with the United States Air Force
and other allied nations at one of the world's best air combat training
facilities.

The deployment of personnel and aircraft from RAAF Amberley in
Queensland and RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales to Exercise Red Flag
will be the first overseas deployment of a combined Air Combat Group
force with both F-111 and F/A-18 aircraft. This year will also be the
first time the Air Force has sent F/A-18 Hornet aircraft to take part in
the exercise.

Group Captain Bill Henman, Officer Commanding 81 Wing from RAAF
Williamtown will command the Air Combat Group deployment to Red Flag.

"Participating in Red Flag is a great opportunity for Air Combat Group
and will be a major milestone in the training of our air combat
aviators. Red Flag also provides invaluable training for our logistics
and maintenance personnel as they are able to practice deploying to
another country and working together with other Air Forces" Group
Captain Henman said.

The large scale exercise will involve experienced aircrews from the
different air forces flying Strike, Electronic Warfare, Tactical
Transport, Fighter Escort, Airborne Warning and Control, and Air to Air
refueling aircraft against dedicated defensive fighter aircraft and an
extensive range of simulated Surface to Air threats.

The F-111 aircraft and the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft will arrive at Nellis
Air Force Base from Thursday 21 October. RAAF C-130 Hercules aircraft
will provide airlift support to Air Combat Group on their way to Nellis
Air Force Base. The exercise runs for two weeks with flying beginning on
Saturday 23 October.

bump
After the big F-111 topic of last week I thought at least one person would respond..