The first Commando Sling of the new fiscal year has wrapped. Participating were some 80 airmen from the 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan. The unit’s F-16s flew with and against Singapore Air Force F-5s. The Misawa airmen felt comfortable with their Singapore counterparts because “they think like we do,” having received much of their training in the US, said Lt. Col. John Pearse, 14th FS commander. However, he asserted it was “very good threat replication” because his F-16 force rarely gets to train against smaller aircraft.
A new F-35 training group graduated its first batch of two Polish pilots May 9, with more on the way from Poland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and other partners. The 85th Fighter Group was reactivated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ark. last July to help other F-35 buyers prepare…