F-16 Fighting Falcon News

January 18, 2004 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Six pilots and about 155 support personnel are on their way to an undisclosed country in the Arabian Gulf for a special training exercise with local Arab air forces.
About 3 a.m. Saturday, 10 jets from Cannon's 522nd Fighter Squadron, including one piloted by base commander Col. Robert Yates, took off for an eight-hour trip to a mid-Atlantic base where they were to refuel and wait for the main body of support personnel to join them and do any needed maintenance. Early Sunday morning, the remaining support staff took off in a KC-10 personnel transport plane. Both groups are expected to land early this week in the Arabian Gulf for the 30-day exercise.



Not all of the 10 jets will arrive at the Gulf - four are "air spares" intended as replacements in case one of the jets breaks down en route.