On 11 oct all 555FS F-16s returned from deployment to KunsanAB
On 14 oct fourteen F-16s of 510FS departed to Graf-Ignatievo for exercise.
More info: Over the next twenty days, the Graf Ignatievo airbase near Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv will become a stage for simulated air battles between the Russian MiG-29 and the American F-16 fighters. The air battle simulations will be carried out as part of the joint Bulgarian-American military exercise Rodopsko Kopie'2007, which started yesterday at the Graf Ignatievo Airbase - Bulgaria's only airbase that fully complies with the NATO standards. By October 26, Bulgarian and American aces will be performing exercise flights onboard sixteen F-16 fighters; three transport airplanes, six MiG-29 fighters, two Su-25 airplanes, two airplanes Pilatus and two L-39 airplanes.
"The exercise was planned long ago under the program for bilateral military cooperation," officials from the Bulgaria's Defense Ministry told The Standart.
The US pilots come from the Aviano Airbase in northeastern Italy. A few days ago it transpired that Aviano would be closed for flights until October 23 due to ongoing repairs on its takeoff and landing runways. This is why part of the fighters and bombers were moved to the Graf Ignatievo Airbase. There, the US pilots will also practice at special fire grounds that the Italian airbase lacks.
And as stated above, there are some runway repais active, see notam:
M0325/07 - AERODROME CLOSED TO ALL UNAUTHORIZED AIRCRAFT DUE TO RUNWAY
REPAIRS. 06 OCT 06:00 2007 UNTIL 23 OCT 20:00 2007. CREATED: 01 OCT 06:27 2007
There are at least three "new" UH-60A at Aviano this week, the only identified so far is 87-24647, all are using "Duke" c/s. Did someone know if they are delivered to the Army unit here or just on exercise fron Germany?
Indeed a quiet day at Aviano, but is was sunny with a nice temperature.
89-2029/AV F-16CG 31FW/555FS, parked outside
89-2041/AV F-16CG 31FW/555FS, parked outside
MM54516/51-75 MB-339A AMI 51 Gr 651 SCC, made a high speed overshoot as "Boxer 03"
MM62247/PS-B15 P180 Polizia/1 RV Pratica di Mare, GCA approach and overshoot 'I2247'
N801DE MD11 World fullstop 'RCH0729'
84-00157 C-12U-3 6-52nd AVN GCA and fullstop 'DUKE66'
That's it!
Last edited by Piet Luijken on 26 Oct 2007, 19:19, edited 2 times in total.
