Weasel Simulates SWA:
Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina just played host to Dynamic Weasel 06-2 in which some 70 fighter, attack, helicopter, and command and control aircraft flew missions intended to replicate combat operations in Southwest Asia. Adding to the realism were Tactical Air Control Party airmen from the Air Force and Marine Corps and ground convoys. According to Maj. Marc Himelhoch, with the 20th Operations Support Squadron at Shaw, a key objective of this Weasel was to give F-16CJ pilots an opportunity to explore use of recent avionics upgrades.
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.
