News>A-10 pilots take to Bulgarian skies during joint exercise
Photos
1st Lt. Patrick Parrish, 81st Fighter Squadron pilot, suits up and prepares to fly on a training mission over Novo Selo Training Range, Bulgaria. Lieutenant Parrish deployed to Bezmer Air Base, Bulgaria, from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to support a joint training exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, fires ammunition during a training mission over Novo Selo Training Range, Bulgaria. The A-10s were used to support a joint training exercise between the U.S. and Bulgarian air forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
Staff Sgt. Brandon Craig, a tactical air control party radio operator, runs a training scenario for pilots operating out of Bezmer Air Base, Bulgaria. Sergeant Craig deployed from the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron out of Vilseck, Germany, to participate in the joint training exercise between U.S. and Bulgarian air forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
Capt. Vladislav Todorov, a Bulgarian SU-25 pilot, explains the SU-25 cockpit April 15 to Air Force 1st Lt. Priscilla Giddings, an A-10 pilot from the 81st Fighter Squadron. Pilots from Spandahlem Air Base, Germany, and the Bulgarian air force joined together during "Reunion April 2009" to hone their close air support capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
An A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis down the runway to take off on a training mission April 15 with Bulgarian SU-25s parked in the background at Bezmer Air Base, Bulgaria. The A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, deployed here to support a U.S. and Bulgarian air forces joint training exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Watson demonstrates A-10 Thunderbolt II armament equipment to Col. Pete Maynard April 17 at Bezmer Air Base, Bulgaria. Sergeant Watson is an armament systems technician with athe 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and Colonel Maynard is the Bulgarian defense attache. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)
by Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
4/23/2009 - BEZMER AIR BASE, Bulgaria (AFNS) -- U.S. and Bulgarian air force pilots are honing their close air support and combat search and rescue skills during a joint training exercise April 7 to 28 here.
While the exercise was a reunion for Bulgarian and American partnership efforts, this is the first time the 81st Fighter Squadron from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, has trained in Bulgaria.
"It was not decided until February to come here, and essentially the Bulgarians agreed immediately knocking down all of the road blocks to make it happen," said Col. David Wilmot, U.S. defense and air attache to Bulgaria. "The amazing part was that even though it was a late add-on by the U.S. Air Force, the Bulgarian government did not hesitate."
Bulgaria offers many unique training opportunities for the A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots.
"It is an excellent place to perform our mission and to practice low altitude training," said 1st Lt. Priscilla Giddings, 81st FS pilot. "For the past week, we have been the only aircraft airborne, so we have a huge operating area. We can fly from the surface up to 24,000 feet running though all of our training requirements."
The opportunity to train with the SU-25 Frogfoot, an aircraft designed for the same purpose as the A-10, is something the pilots appreciate.
"It has been an amazing opportunity," Lieutenant Giddings said. "They perform together very well because we have similar airspeeds, limitations and capabilities."
In addition to flying with the SU-25s, the pilots have also participated in training scenarios with Mig-29 Fulcrums and AS-532AL helicopters.
"Some of our compatriots who fly air-to-air never get this opportunity," said Lt. Col. Timothy Hogan, 81st FS commander. "It has been very unique for us to be here and sit down to discuss tactics, techniques and procedures. It is fantastic."
Colonel Wilmot believes the Airmen who deployed here will leave with more than just increased technical expertise.
The most important part of this is what the pilots, maintainers and other Airmen are going to learn about each other and the relationships they will build, Colonel Wilmot said. "This is going to go a long way in solidifying the relationship between the two countries."
If the 81st FS is invited back to Bezmer, Maj. Benjamin Griffith is just one of the pilots here who said he would jump at the chance to return.
"I think any A-10 pilot would jump at the opportunity to come back to Bezmer and accomplish this exercise again," he said. "The training here is really outstanding in terms of weather, lack of airspace restrictions, freedom of movement and a range we could use on a daily basis to deploy weapons -- all of these are available at Bezmer."
