[freepersup]

Not as a pilot unfortunately... but as a parachute rigger- Still, the 5 day exercise is unique for all participants.

FWIW It took our pilots approx. 10 sorties in Nam to get comfortable in country flying initial sorties, after which the experience led to increased survival rates of aircrews. The Red Flag is designed to simulate various air combat scenarios and give our pilots once complete, that 10 sortie edge.

Granted, things have changed since the post Nam era in terms of the geo political world, now- our pilots get a lot of live fire training in flying the no fly zones and missions in Afghanistan. Red Flag continues to prepare our pilots for hostile environments such as these.

Whatever type of aircraft that exists in U S inventory plays a role in Red Flag. Our allies bring most of their air assets as well. U S ground forces with shoot down capabilities take part in the festivities. It's a real donny brook.

[El Gato]

It's a real donny brook

Naw, it's a simualted Donny Brook. What's about to happen over Iraq, and mabye Korea, will be a reall Donny Brook. Red Flag is very good and realistic training though. I read recently that the next scheduled Red Flag has been cancelled, the would be participates seem to be otherwise occuppied at he moment.