Jet Fighter #9

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and United States Air Force F-16's fly in formation over Sydney.... more

by Jackie Russo

Title

Jet Fighter #9

Artist

Jackie Russo

Medium

Photograph

Description

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and United States Air Force F-16's fly in formation over Sydney.

The first phase of the Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 31 Fighter Combat Instructor course was successful with the help of the Iowa Air National Guard playing the enemy as ‘red air’. Approximately 125 United States airmen participated in a three-week long exercise, which they dubbed ‘Sentry Down Under’, in support of the intensive, five-month long course. The Guard's contingent included 132nd Fighter Wing of Des Moines and 185th Air Refuelling Wing of Sioux City, with F-16 fighter jets and a KC-135 air refuelling tanker. The United States and Australian militaries have a long history of training together, but this is the first time the Iowa National Guard has had the opportunity to participate in this coalition exercise. The post-graduate course is conducted every two years and provides experienced F/A-18 Hornet Pilots with extensive training in all air combat related roles. The Fighter Combat Instructor’s role is to provide leadership in the development of fighter tactics and determine how those tactics can be used to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s joint war fighting capability.

Uploaded

December 26th, 2017