U.S. – Australia Relations

Air Force pilots return

Canberra — 23 March 2010

23 March 2010

Australian Air Force pilots have returned home after two weeks in USA for Exercise Red Flag.

The exercise was held at the Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and provided personnel with the world’s most realistic and demanding tactical flying training available.

Red Flag Deputy Director, Group Captain Gavin Turnbull, said Australian participants showed they are an effective part of a coalition team during Red Flag.

"The Australian forces worked closely with our coalition partners from the United States and United Kingdom to train together and also lead several missions in the highly specialised air combat war-fighting scenarios," Group Captain Turnbull said.

"The many lessons to be taken away from this exercise will help us shape our training and influence the evolution of our networked Air Force."

One hundred and sixty personnel and eight F/A-18 Hornets participated in the exercise, which Australia has participated in approximately every two years since the 1980s.

The exercise involved more than 70 aircraft from the US, UK and Australia and was conducted in the Mojave Desert, Nevada USA.

Original document from www.defence.gov.au.

Last update: Thursday, 25 March 2010 GMT+1100