F-16 Fighting Falcon News

April 10, 2008 (by SSgt. Vann Miller) - Aerial dog-fights between 10 or more jets and dodging simulated missiles may sound like a boss-level of a video game, but it's really the daunting experience of a combat pilot during the RED FLAG-Alaska 08-2 training at Eielson AFB.
"It's like a big helmet fire," said 1st Lt. Derick Cole, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea. "You're reacting to threats out there -- 60 to 70 jets, radios going crazy and surface-to-air missiles. Being able to process all that information at one time becomes very challenging."

Red Flag exercises give members from various bases, branches of service and countries a chance to train in a realistic combat environment while giving aircrews and maintainers an opportunity to showcase their skills and warrior ethos.

"This training really prepares pilots for a full combat experience," Lieutenant Cole said.
As the fighters play the role of friendly or aggressor forces, the pilots get to really see just what kind of capabilities are at their finger tips. And according to one aviator, the preparation done here takes training to the next level.

"The airspace and real-world emitters just give us a training environment that you really can't get at our home station," said Lieutenant Cole.

RED FLAG-Alaska hosts multiple air frames in order to create the most realistic war environment possible. In addition to the fighter aircraft, there are tankers, helicopters and Airborne Warning and Control System operating in the theater. But it is the high-flying and very maneuverable aircraft that get most of the attention.

Some of those contenders include the Navy's EA-6B Prowler, which is a long-range tactical aircraft, used for electronic warfare. The Air Force brings the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-15 Eagle, and punching its way into the fight for the first time is the F-22 Raptor.

One pilot, naval aviator, Lt. Paul Tully said flying here gives him a chance to educate Air Force pilots on just what the Prowler brings to the fight.

"I find this [training in Alaska] to be the most rewarding," said Navy Lieutenant Tully from Whidbey Island Oak Harbor, Wash. "The Prowler supports both air and ground forces by denying radar and communications jamming."

Though RF-A has another week before all the training scenarios are complete, some pilots are disappointed that the weather has cancelled some of the flights. Lieutenant Tully said three of his flights were cancelled due to nearly five inches of snow since the exercise started.

Mission scheduler Capt. Paul Davidson, 36th FS Osan AB, said though the weather has caused some of the morning flights to be cancelled, overall he is pleased so far. The exercise will continue as planned despite the snow and poor weather.