510th and 555th Squadrons, 31st Wing, USAF
Aviano air base
Italy
June 2023
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| A detailed report will appear in my next book. |
| Left to right: General Dynamics F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon (89-2030 '510 FS AV' 'Buzzards Rule') with 510FS 'Buzzards', 31FW returning from Exercise African Lion in Morocco. |
| Left to right: F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon (88-0526 'AV') a F-16C borrowed from 555FS 'Triple Nickel', 31FW. |
| Left to right: F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcons (89-2018 'AV' and 88-0491 'AV') with 510FS 'Buzzards', 31FW. |
| Pilots about to fly a 1v1 BFM (Basic Fighter Manoeuvres) training mission. |
Left to right: Pre-flight checks.
F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon (88-0526 'AV') with 555FS 'Triple Nickel', 31FW. |
Left to right: Wave off.
F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon (88-0526 'AV') with 555FS 'Triple Nickel', 31FW. |
| Left to right: F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcons (88-0526, 88-0443, 87-0351 and 88-0521 with 89-0008 'AV') with 510FS and 555FS, 31FW. |
Mission briefing for 1v1 Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM).
1v1 BFM (Basic Fighter Manoeuvres) briefing conducted by Lt 'Utah' Greene '89-2152' of Triple Nickel with Lt 'Capone' Davis (1,300 F-16 hours), he is progressing to the Weapons School at Nellis for six months before going on to Shaw AFB as instructor.
The training mission will last in the air around 35 minutes with 35 manoeuvres, 'Utah' would expect 6 to 9 kills.
A quote from 'Capone' from one of 35 manoeuvres; "What you see is aspect angle at 18, then begin to decrease in range, decreasing you see line of sight, transition from slowly aft to rapidly aft at that point. What I want you to do is put your lift vector to 30 degrees under the adversary, power during max AB [after burner] that will be able limiter pull up to 300 to 330 knots……."
Three hours of debriefing follows the flight. |
56 RQS
During my visit the 56 RQS HH-60G Pave Hawks were all grounds, either due to maintenance issues or because one had a missing cabin component causing a search which involved taking it all the cabin apart. |
| Left to right: Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawks (88-26114 'AV', 92-26471 'AV') with 56 RQS Rescue Squadron. |
| Left to right: HH-60G Pave Hawk (92-26471 'AV') with 56 RQS Rescue Squadron. |
| Left to right: Inside the HH-60G Pave Hawk |
| North American F-100D Super Sabre (G-290, 54-2290 marked '56-927 SS') ex Royal Danish Air Force, Italian Air Force Museum, Vigna di Valle. |
Left to right: F-100D Super Sabre (G-290, 54-2290 marked '56-927 SS') ex Royal Danish Air Force.
Panavia Tornado IDS (MM7080 6-33') 102°Gruppo 6°Stormo, Italian Air Force.
General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon (82-1021 'AV 31 FW'). |
