Joint training exercise brings myriad aircraft

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malanie Holochwost and Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  It's rare to see any aircraft other than F-16s on the Luke Air Force Base flightline. So, when F-22s, F-18s, T-38s and AT-38s all showed up Jan. 28 for a joint training exercise, it was a special occasion.

According to Lt. Col. Stephanie Wolfgeher, 309th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations, pilots flew in from Nellis AFB, Nev., Tyndall AFB, Fla., Edwards AFB, Calif., Randolph AFB, Texas, Vance AFB, Okla., Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., and several Marine bases in San Diego.

"The fly-in provided dissimilar training for all participants," she said. "Pilots usually have a good idea how to fight well against their own type of aircraft, but the fly-in gave them the opportunity to practice against other aircraft they may not see very often."

Colonel Wolfgeher said the fly-in provided more than just air-to-air training, but ground, intelligence and flight integration training as well.

Maj. Kurt Kochendarfer, 69th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and a veteran of dissimilar combat training, offered a unique perspective.

"I currently fly the F-16, but previously flew the F/A-18 when I was on active duty in the Navy," he said. "I've participated in a DACT event like this four times in the past 10 years."
Major Kochendarfer said the exercise was an educational experience for him.

"I had the opportunity to relearn the performance strengths and weaknesses of the F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft," he said. "I only fought against the F/A-18, but it was good to fight a Hornet again while flying the F-16."

What's more, Maj. Eric Puels, 56th FW F-35 Integration officer said the training was a great experience for his student pilot.

"This type of event gives students a great opportunity to tactically employ their aircraft," he said. "It was a syllabus sortie involving a total of three F-16s and one F/A-18. The F-16 maneuvers differently than other aircraft. It is a fairly maneuverable jet."

The exercise offered unique learning opportunities, Major Puels said.

"With only F-16s, we can't replicate the high angle of attack achievable by an F/A-18," he said. "The F/A-18 has the ability to quickly turn and point at a speed under 300 knots."
Major Kochendarfer had high praise for both aircraft.

"Both airplanes are fantastic and a well-suited match for each other," he said. "This was an exceptional joint training opportunity, coupled with tremendous and unique force-development activities."