An F-22 Raptor flight demonstration highlighted the US military representation at the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow held this past week at Sakhir AB, Bahrain. “Coming together with our partners in the Gulf states … has been [an] excellent experience,” said Navy Lt. Jordan Dennis. “We look forward to continuing to enhance interoperability with our partners here in the Middle East,” he added in a release. The biennial event also included an F-15E Strike Eagle, deployed from the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and joint-service aircraft from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. A total of 10 US aircraft, including an F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, AV-8B Harriers, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, as well as MH-53E, MH-60S, and CH-47 helicopters were on static display Jan. 21-23. Flight demonstration teams from several international air forces performed to nearly 30,000 spectators during the event, reported Stars and Stripes.
Air Force F-16 pilot Lt. Col. Eric R. Emerson, who commanded a small quick reaction force of fighters responding to Iranian-backed militia groups in 2024, became the first Air National Guardsman presented with the Anthony C. Shine Award on Feb. 10.
