Colombian Air Force team visits McEntire

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Caycee Watson | Colombian Brig. General Ramses Rueda, a pilot and Director of the Colombian Air Force Officer's Academy, along with a team of Colombian Air Force officers, tour McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., July 30, 2013. The visit was the latest engagement for the State Partnership Program between South Carolina and the Republic of Colombia. The Colombian Air Force has an interest in purchasing their own F-16's in the near future and visited the South Carolina Air National Guard to gain knowledge of the maintenance and logistics facilities that support the aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson/Released)  

EASTOVER, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

07.30.2013

Story by Lt. Col. Jim St. Clair 

South Carolina National Guard

EASTOVER, S.C. - A team of five Colombian Air Force officers toured McEntire Joint National Guard Base Tuesday as part of a U.S. visit to gather information about F-16 operations and maintenance.

This visit is the latest engagement of the newly formed State Partnership Program (SPP) between South Carolina and the Republic of Colombia. South Carolina and Colombia formally established their bilateral relationship last year. The SPP is a joint venture of equal partners and as well as one of shared responsibilities in addressing transnational concerns.

Tuesday’s visit was a follow on from April when General Tito Saul Pinilla Pinilla, the commander of the Colombian Air Force, toured McEntire JNGB and expressed interest in the SCANG’s F-16s, especially the maintenance and logistics facilities required to support that aircraft. Pinilla said Colombia is planning on purchasing F-16s in the near future and said he will need advice and guidance from their state partner, South Carolina.

The Colombian Team was led by Brig. Gen. Ramses Rueda, an active duty pilot and director of the Colombian Air Force Officer’s Academy. General Rueda was accompanied by Maj. Robinson Florez, Capts. Carlos Caldas and Alex Martinez and Lt. Perez Sosa Giovanni Andres.

After a briefing from 169th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Michael Manning, the Colombians went on a tour of the 169th Operation Group, 169th Maintenance Group and had an avionics demonstration on the flight line.

After departing McEntire, the Colombian team flew to Ft. Worth, Texas, to visit Lockheed Martin’s F-16 facility, according to Lt.Col. Andrew Thorne, the SCANG’s SPP director.

• Date Taken: 07.30.2013
• Date Posted: 08.01.2013 09:52
• Story ID: 111178
• Location: EASTOVER, SOUTH CAROLINA, US