More than 100 active duty and reserve airmen and a group of US sailors, along with a handful of US military aircraft, participated in the first-ever Bahrain International Airshow that took place Jan, 21-23 in Manama on the small island-nation. The Air Force sent a C-17 and C-130H airlifter, a couple of F-16Cs, and a C-21A VIP transport as static displays, while the Navy sent its F/A-18 Super Hornet aerial demonstration team to perform at the event. Maj. Andrew Thorne, Air Forces Central’s lead planner, said the event was “a great opportunity for us to highlight the excellent relationship we have with the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is a strong, loyal ally to the United States.” The airshow will become a biennial event and will be held next in January 2012. (Manama release by TSgt. Joseph Kapinos, and Kaponis’ second dispatch)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
