The pilots of the Czech Air Force are coming out of NATO’s Air Meet 2005 with big grins on their faces. Why? Because the pilots and their L159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft “shot down” in simulated air combat US F-16 and F-18 fighters. They got their shot against frontline American aircraft and a variety of other aircraft in the alliance’s multinational exercise in Norway.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
