U.S. military set to take part in Moscow air show

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STUTTGART, Germany (AFPN) --  Eight U.S. Air Force aircraft and 100 people will participate in the Moscow International Air Show 2005 at Ramenskoye Airfield, Russia, from Aug. 16 to 21.

Aircraft will include two F-15E Strike Eagles, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, a KC-10 Extender, a KC-135 Stratotanker and two B-1B Lancers.

The B-1B will perform an aerial demonstration during the air show. Other activities include presentations by senior officials, aircraft static displays and discussions with aircrews.

The year 2003 marked the first time U.S. military aircraft were on public display in Russia, officials said. That visit was also the first time a U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bomber was open to the public at the air show. Another B-52 had reportedly been in the country in the early 1990s on a military-to-military contact visit.

"I've been in many Russian bombers, and this is very similar," then-Russian air force Col. Magomed Tolboev told the B-52 crewmembers as they climbed out of the aircraft after landing in 2003. "Everyone in the world was afraid of the B-52. It was a symbol of the Cold War. Now that it's here on Russian ground on such a beautiful, sunny day, it's a great symbol of our friendship."

The Moscow air show is a premier event of its type in the world. U.S. participation is part of a greater military-to-military contact program that fosters good relations between countries, officials said. Such events contribute to U.S. national economic and security interests while contributing to a secure and stable environment in Europe. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)