Posted on 02/09/2006 8:14:26 PM PST by SandRat
2/9/2006 - KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR BASE, Thailand (AFPN) -- Cope Tiger ‘06, an annual multi-lateral exercise involving the U.S., Thailand and Singapore, began Feb. 7.
More than 1,300 people, including 300 U.S. servicemembers and 1,000 servicemembers from Thailand and Singapore, are participating in the exercise that involves aviation and ground units. The exercise is designed to hone flying skills and foster international cooperation among the three countries.
A-10 Thunderbolt II operators and maintainers from Osan Air Base, South Korea, have deployed for the exercise.
“For a unit that doesn’t normally deploy (this) is a great opportunity,” said Lt. Col. Scott Caine, 25th Fighter Squadron commander. “The whole team has taken this mission and made it run as smooth as possible. I couldn’t be happier with that.”
Colonel Caine said the operations and maintenance relationship is strong among the A-10 unit.
“It’s nice to see the 51st Fighter Wing grow through this deployment by making this mission happen,” he said. “It’s nothing short of exceptional.”
Some of the biggest lessons A-10 maintainers are learning are from each other, said Master Sgt. Norman Barrett, a production superintendent with the 25th Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
“When a jet breaks, it’s great to see people step up and be ready to lend a hand. There are back shop guys here that some of the maintainers have never met, so this deployment is helping out flightline workers learn some additional depth,” Sergeant Barrett said.
Col. Jeffery LeVault, exercise director for U.S. forces in Cope Tiger, said A-10 pilots will see some different range space, employ weapons and have the opportunity to be part of a larger air group during Cope Tiger.
Cope Tiger provides air-to-air, air-to-ground and large force employment training for crews in a multi-national environment while expanding the capabilities and readiness of U.S. and allied forces, officials said.
The exercise, held annually since 1994, runs through Feb. 18.
A-10 BUMP-BUZZZZZZZZ-BURRRRRRRRRRRPPPP!!!
Did they bring the planes from Korea? Long trip.
The A-10 rocks!
gotta luv that worthog ,
a freakin` killin` machine !!!
Peace through superior fire power. Right on!
Loved the A-10 ever since I read about them when I was a young kitten. [see my screen name] :-)
Cheers!
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, February 9, 2006
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — The heavy snow blanketing much of South Korea early Tuesday forced most U.S. military installations to limit staffing, cancel meetings, halt bus and taxi service and cancel classes for thousands of students.
(7" snowfall at base!)
25 TFS bump!
Thanks SandRat...for all of your military news posts.
/jasper
Is it really true that the A-10s are being systematically decommissioned? Whassup widat? Too good at what they're designed for and bringing home pilots after taking damage that would bring down any other craft?
I got to see a couple of them drop stuff off on our western horizon over Fallujah in November '04. It was cool.
BTT
Glad to do it. More copming tonight after I check al the replies.
Go Ugly Early bump
Awesome! What were they dropping?
It is sudden and awesome. The plane appears with no warning through a break in the trees, fires that cannon that is like bombs going off, and disappears into the trees again leaving a cloud of dust.
I watched three of them from Nellis below me, flying in a UT canyon. They were mega loud and all scary. WOW! Hate to have them shooting or bombing in my general area.
When we saw them "making deliveries" in Fallujah, we were actually in Taji, about 18 to 20 miles away. It's so flat here, we were able to see it and to hear the muted explosions.
I would have hated to have been up close to all of that - constant noise went on for about four days. We just heard these eerie, muted popping sounds.
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