USAF F-16s on Monday joined F-16s from Jordan, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates at Azraq Royal Jordanian Air Base for this year’s Falcon Air Meet, a two-week competition. “The Jordanians are impeccable hosts,” said Maj. Gerrod McLellan, Air Forces Central’s exercise lead officer. He added, “They are more than willing to engage with us on all levels” not only in combat exercises, but also in maintenance, emergency response, force protection, fuel and armaments. The flight syllabus and competition this year include both the well-established air-to-air engagement training and close air support, including US Navy F/A-18s, and a single B-52. Falcon Air Meet was originally a bilateral US-Jordanian training event, but has grown into a multinational, broad-ranging activity. Last year, the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing was the overall winner. (Azraq report by TSgt. Chyenne Adams)
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.