Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Crane | U.S. military aircraft are displayed at the African Aerospace and Defense Expo at...... read more read more
Subscribe
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Thirteen members of the 403rd Wing had the opportunity to attend the Africa Aerospace & Defence Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, South Africa Sept. 13-19.
The crew included five pilots, four loadmasters and four maintainers. Ten were from the 815th Airlift Squadron and three from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.
According to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, attending this trade show was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen relationships between the United States and South Africa.
The first three days of the event involved a tradeshow for defense officials from across the globe while the second two days were scheduled as an airshow that was open to the public. Throughout the event more than 90,000 people were able to interact with crew members, ask questions and tour diverse aircraft including a C-130J Super Hercules flown by the 403rd Wing’s 815th AS Flying Jennies.
Maj. Dominic Barberi, 815th AS, was one of the pilots to attend the expo and said that tradeshows and airshows help enhance relationships with the public around the world and spread global awareness of the Air Force and its capabilities.
“On the first three days there were a lot of South African children there with their teachers who’ve never been on an airplane; it was a unique experience for them,” Barberi said. “We also met South African air force members and had the opportunity to work with our brothers in arms.”
Lt. Col. Tim Weiher, 815 AS assistant director of operations, said airshows are important because they establish relationships between the United States and its allies and allows Air Force members to show off their capabilities.
“It gives other countries the opportunity to look at our air frames up close and talk to air crews to get perspective on what it’s like to work on that particular air frame. It also gives our guys a chance go places they’ve never been,” Weiher said. “It’s good for us, and it’s good for our allies.”
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2016 10:40 |
| Story ID: | 215128 |
| Location: | KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 403rd Wing members participate in Africa Aerospace, Defence Expo, by Heather Heiney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
