New York National Guard members participate in South African air show

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LATHAM, N.Y. (AFNS) --  More than 70 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard are participating in the Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition 2010 from Sept. 21 through 25 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The event is held at Air Force Base Ysterplaat and features aircraft from 35 countries and 135 manufacturers.

The New York National Guard, which participates in a State Partnership Program with the South African National Defence Force, sent an Army National Guard OH-58 Kiowa Scout and a New York Air National Guard HH-60 Pavehawk to participate in the exhibition.

"Support missions such as this afford our New York National Guard a continuous capability to strengthen our partnership with the South African National Defense Forces," said Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne, the New York National Guard director of joint staff.

"We, in New York, are looking forward to opportunities like this to exchange and share information about how we prepare Soldiers and Airmen for the demands of today's contingency missions," General Payne said.

The HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter belongs to the 106th Rescue Wing based at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach Long Island. The wing, featured in the movie "The Perfect Storm," also sent 25 Airmen, including pararescue specialists, to participate in the show and conduct military-to-military activities with South African forces.

The HH-60 was transported to Cape Town International Airport by a New York Air National Guard C-5A Galaxy transport aircraft, and later to Ysterplaat, South Africa, by a C-17 Globemaster from a heavy airlift wing based in Hungary.

"It's going to be awesome. It is a good trip," said Army Sgt. Kevin Resseler, an OH-59 ground support mechanic. "You'll see what other countries are using and you'll see what other units are using."

Participation in this air show is part of the New York National Guard's ongoing relationship with South Africa.

The State Partnership Program is a National Guard initiative that encourages relationships, enhances international security and builds capacity across all levels of society with developing nations. Each state and territorial National Guard is partnered with the military of a developing friendly nation.

The Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition, is a five-day event, held every two years. The first three days of the event feature a trade show, with the last two days open to the public.

(Courtesy of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs)