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Keith McCord ReportingHill Air Force Base is conducting a major training exercise with members of the Royal Air Force from England. The visiting pilots are working with members of the 388th Fighter Wing in flying exercises in the west desert training range.
If you live near Hill Air Force Base, you've probably seen and heard something other than the F-16's taking off on their daily training missions. For the past three weeks, pilots from Britain's Royal Air Force have flown nine Tornado Fighter jets in daily wartime exercises out on the Utah Test and Training Range.
Dean Andrew, Wing Commander, Royal Air Force: "To use the ranges that allows the freedom of air space and target sets to practice on that are simply not available in Europe."
The Tornado jets are flying alongside the 388th's F-16's, and firing a variety of laser and GPS guided live bombs and missiles. There are about 200 members of the visiting Tornado squadron, including pilots, maintenance and communications personnel.
Dean Andrew: "The majority of the people who are out here are very new on the aircraft, just out of the Tornado school, and it's basically the final part of their training before they go off and support operation."
The Squadron is based at Britain's Marham Air Force Base northeast of London. Exercises like this are certainly good experience for the British pilots and crews, and valuable for US squadron's too, since they'll likely be working together.
Capt. Rob Goza, 388th Public Affairs: "Well obviously, the US has had a long and positive relationship with the Brits, they're probably our closest ally, so it's really great training for both organizations."
The Royal Air Force's Squadron came to Utah three weeks ago and will drop its final bombs in the west desert on Friday and head back home.
