Runaway Gun
7th Oct 2003, 02:59
Copied from www.f-15estrikeeagle.com
Pair’s historic flight in F-15E Strike Eagle
By 2nd LT Amy Hansen,
3rd Wing Public Affairs.
Two Australian Air Force members on exchange to the United States have made history in the skies over Alaska.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Simmons, a pilot, and Flight Lieutenant Tony Southwood, a Weapons System Officer (WSO), recently took to the skies in an F-15E Strike Eagle – the first time in the history of the Pacific Air Force (PACAF) that a foreign pilot and WSO have flown a US Air Force jet together.
FLTLT Simmons admitted the flight was “fun”, even if the pair turned a few heads before taking off.
“Watching the crew chief’s expression when he finally realised that two Aussies were very serious about taking his jet flying was priceless, and he looked a full 10 years older by the time we got back.”
He said his visit to Elmendorf was significant for a number of reasons.
“To the US Air Force, the first significance of the flight was the fact that a foreign aircrew took a US Air Force fighter jet into the sky and actually brought it back,” he said. “Secondly, the relationship between the US and Australian military is close and this demonstrated the relationship quite clearly.”
Well done boys! ;)
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4418/images/Page06a.jpg
Pair’s historic flight in F-15E Strike Eagle
By 2nd LT Amy Hansen,
3rd Wing Public Affairs.
Two Australian Air Force members on exchange to the United States have made history in the skies over Alaska.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Simmons, a pilot, and Flight Lieutenant Tony Southwood, a Weapons System Officer (WSO), recently took to the skies in an F-15E Strike Eagle – the first time in the history of the Pacific Air Force (PACAF) that a foreign pilot and WSO have flown a US Air Force jet together.
FLTLT Simmons admitted the flight was “fun”, even if the pair turned a few heads before taking off.
“Watching the crew chief’s expression when he finally realised that two Aussies were very serious about taking his jet flying was priceless, and he looked a full 10 years older by the time we got back.”
He said his visit to Elmendorf was significant for a number of reasons.
“To the US Air Force, the first significance of the flight was the fact that a foreign aircrew took a US Air Force fighter jet into the sky and actually brought it back,” he said. “Secondly, the relationship between the US and Australian military is close and this demonstrated the relationship quite clearly.”
Well done boys! ;)
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4418/images/Page06a.jpg