A Canadian crewchief from the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron shows firefighters from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., how to approach the CF-18 and conduct rescue procedures in the event of an emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lisa Macias)
Posted on 03/08/2006 6:20:37 PM PST by SandRat
3/8/2006 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Canadian Airmen are participating with Reserve Airmen in a joint international exercise known as ChumEx.
As a yearly event, 93rd Fighter Squadron officials here invite air force fighter units with dissimilar aircraft from allied nations to play “war games” and practice dogfighting skills.
This year, the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Bagotville, Canada, was the first unit to arrive, bringing five CF-18 Hornets and 15 ground crewmembers to begin the exercise.
We “throw out the bait and stir up the fight, which is why it is referred to as ChumEx,” said Lt. Col. Mike Lesman, a pilot with the 93rd Fighter Squadron.
One of the major aspects of ChumEx is the dogfighting, where the pilots go up in a six vs. eight or six vs. 10 flying formation. The pilots from both units take turns playing the role of an adversary, or Red Air, simulating a MiG-29 or Su-27.
Not only is this a positive training experience for the pilots, but it also resembles a real-world scenario where Americans would serve alongside fellow coalition pilots in a NATO or multinational mission.
“It is important for us to continue these types of exercises with our American brothers,” said Maj. Sylvain Menard, a CF-18 pilot with the 425th.
“Not only is there an exchange of knowledge, but we enjoy the social aspect as well,” he said.
The training provides a “ton of experience,” said Capt. Aaron Macluskie, another CF-18 pilot with the 425th.
The good weather seemed important as well.
“It is 30 below back in Canada,” he said.
The next unit to arrive for ChumEx in the monthlong training will be the 441st Tactical Fighter Squadron from Cold Lake, Canada. In total, 87 Canadian Airmen will be involved in the exercise.
Another incentive in ChumEx is the familiarization rides the pilots will receive. The American F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots will have the opportunity to fly in the Canadian CF-18s and vice versa.
After a busy hurricane season, followed by a four-month deployment to Iraq, the Airmen here said they are happy to get some realistic training done while the weather is good.
“It’s great to have our buddies from Canada down here,” Colonel Lesman said.
ChumEx continues at Homestead ARB until mid-March.
A Canadian crewchief from the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron shows firefighters from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., how to approach the CF-18 and conduct rescue procedures in the event of an emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lisa Macias)
military ping!
I don't want any assistance from the Canadians any more. They were a small but great nation at one time, but now Canada has become the nation of drugs, homosexuality and leftist arrogance. The current change of government will not last, nor can Canada be saved from it's own folly. Hedonism has become enshrined in their legal system.
The same could well be said of us; SinFreakSicko, the Rat Party et al, Yale-N-Harvard Snob School, Bezerkly U, ACLU in all it's degenerate corruption, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, NOW, need I go on???
Well, personally I'm glad that we're working with our neighbors to the north. We have much in common with them, including similar histories and many of the same problems they have. Before you tar and feather an entire country, perhaps you better look in the mirror at your own state and nation.
Cindie
Not worthy of a full response.
Yeah, cuz your Hollywood Oscar party full of faggot cowboys, transgendered freaks, pimps and whores and terrorists, not to mention the terrorist huggers and anti Christian/Judeo traitors in the audience. Don't forget, you are the country making all these movies about homosexual cowboys, transvestites and prostitution, drugs and racists etc. You exported your lefty anti-American shit to our country via programs like All in the Family, M*A*S*H etc. and American draft dodging cowards. Now all your homos are trying to create a faggot utopia up here.
And not to sound too much like an arse, but Canadians are heavily influenced and look to America as a guide, as much as they don't like to admit it to themselves. You export these leftist ideas and then broadcast disgraceful debauchery via the Oscar freakshow party on Sunday night and the whole bloody planet sees it.
Whoa there; easy, Mate!;
DCB58 most certainly does NOT speak for all, nor I opine even the majority by any means, of FReepers or Americans.
MOst of us, I would hope, can distinguish between a Country's Government and it's People - at least to some extent.
And now Canada's government finally seems to be coming back to it's senses.
Here's one Yank who celebrates our hopefully renewed alliance.
How can we accurately simulate the performance of the MiG-29 or Su-27 when we don't (I assume) have any of 'em to play with?
From what I've seen, the Mig 29 can do things that our F-18 can't do - which could present a nasty surprise to any of our F-18 jocks actually going up against one or a flock of them.
There's a video from an air show going around that shows a 29 standing on it's tailpipe and essentially hovering - moving about 40 mph or less, I'd estimate, latteraly.
And they can litterally somersault in mid air and take off in another direction.
Can you do that with an F-18?
I'd like to see someone try it, actually.
"You export these leftist ideas and then broadcast disgraceful debauchery via the Oscar freakshow party on Sunday night and the whole bloody planet sees it."
Exactly. It's like dumping our sewage into our neighbor's yard, and then bitching about the stench.
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