Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-17 Globemaster III demonstration teams build partnerships in New Zealand

    14th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot  taxiing

    Photo By Jarrod Vickers | First Lt. Taylor Absher, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot, signals the squadron hand...... read more read more

    WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND

    04.08.2018

    Story by Senior Airman Jarrod Vickers 

    Pacific Air Forces

    “We are here to enhance our partnership with New Zealand,” said 1st Lt. Taylor Absher, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot. “We want to put on a good show for them, and we are just as excited to be here as they are to have us.”

    This is the first appearance by an F-16 demonstration team since the show's inception in 1988. The U.S. Air Force appeared at the WOW International Airshow in 2008 and 2010 with the LC-130 Skibird, used for the Operation Deep Freeze mission, and again in 2016 with the C-17.

    “[New Zealanders] are very accommodating,” noted Capt. James Callen, 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 aircraft commander. “They love seeing C-17s here, which is great for us. It makes us feel good about what we are doing.”

    Although the demonstration teams traveled to perform aerial displays for the WOW International Airshow, a large portion of their time was spent on the ground coordinating logistics with New Zealand partners.

    “I spent a lot of time on the ground interacting with our Kiwi friends,” said Callen. “We worked very closely for getting airspace cleared, narrating our demonstration, and buttoning up the airshow, so working together as a unit was great.”

    The Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow featured U.S. Air Force assets alongside aircraft and crew from the Royal New Zealand air force, Royal Australian air force and French air force from New Caledonia.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.08.2018
    Date Posted: 04.09.2018 22:36
    Story ID: 272398
    Location: WANAKA, NZ

    Web Views: 533
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN