U.S., Chile to cooperate for air show, maneuversBy Aaron Mackey
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Air Force commanders based in Tucson are hoping that an air show and military exercise to begin in Chile this weekend will help both nations collaborate on security issues in South America.
Close to 20 U.S. Air Force aircraft from the 12th Air Force — a regional command based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base — will participate in the International Air & Space Fair, known as FIDAE, in Santiago, Chile, with a military exercise to follow.
While the air show, which bills itself as one of the largest in the world, will bring the crowds, the real work for the U.S. Air Force units and the roughly 200 airmen attending will begin early next week during the military exercise, said Lt. Col Dan Pence, who oversees the training.
U.S. F-15 and F-16 attack jets and B-1 bombers will practice dogfighting against Chilean F-16s as part of an exercise geared toward increasing the cooperation between the two air forces, Pence said.
Search-and-rescue crews from the United States, including a unit based at D-M, will train alongside Chileans during practice rescue missions. Several U.S. tanker crews will hone their airborne-refueling skills.
Beyond giving the two countries an opportunity to train, the exercise allows both to explore ways to work together on common security concerns in the region, such as drug trafficking, Pence said.
The 12th Air Force, which oversees air operations in Latin America, has long-term interests in the security and stability of the region, making exercises such as next week's crucial, Pence said.
Establishing interoperability between the two countries will help the nations work together to defeat future enemies, said Chilean air force Col. Arturo G. Silva, who works with the 12th Air Force headquarters in Tucson.
The exercise also shows Chile's increasing role in international peacekeeping missions, which have included patrols over Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm and current missions over Haiti, Silva said.
"We are continuing to prepare for peacekeeping, and this exercise is another step in the growing relationship between our countries," Silva said.
Before the U.S. pilots test their skills against Chilean forces, they will put their aircraft on display for the public during the air show.
Beginning Saturday, the public will get a close look at aircraft such as the F-15, C-17 cargo plane and KC-135 refueling tankers.
The air show, which features civilian and military aircraft along with flight demonstrations, is the largest air show in South America and one of the largest in the world, according to its Web site.
Officials with the 12th Air Force will bring students from a Chilean engineering school out to the flight line to get a close look at an F-15 and MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.
The airmen also plan to tour Chile's air force academy and visit children's hospitals, said said Capt. Nathan Broshear, a 12th Air Force spokesman.
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