Thursday, 03 May 2012 17:32

Aviano F-16s Fly in 'Greek Knights'

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Written By Tech. Sgt. Bill Hickman
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Released: Jan. 28, 2000

ANGHIALOS AIR BASE, Volos Greece (USAFENS) -- People and aircraft from Aviano Air Base are in Greece to participate in the joint Greek-American exercise dubbed "Greek Knights".

Five F-16s flew to Anghialos Air Base Jan. 21 to kick off the two-week exercise. About 70 people from the 510th Fighter Squadron and Aviano support agencies are also in Greece making sure the missions are a success.

Maj. Mark Moore, a member of the 510th FS, said the fighters are being used to practice several types of flying scenarios with the Hellenic Air Force.

"We came down here to share ideas with the Greek Air Force, the Greek F-16 pilots specifically, to do some forward air control and close air support," Moore said. "Basically we see how they do business and they see how we do business."

Maj. Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, a Greek pilot, is looking forward to flying with and against the American pilots.

"The U.S. Air Force (pilots) know the F-16 better than anyone else. We've gotten all our flying rules from them. We know (they've) participated in combat -- the Gulf War and the war in Yugoslavia -- and we hope to gain some of that experience."

The Greek pilots also expect to learn more about flying with night vision goggles during the exercise.

"They're very interested in asking us questions about how we employ with night vision goggles -- how they work and what they're good for and not good for," Moore said.

"It will be a new experience, flying with the night vision goggles. Our Air Force has ordered them but they haven't arrived yet, so this will be the first experience with the NVGs," Grigoriadis said.

Moore said pilots from the 510th FS will also benefit from the exercise. "We have the opportunity to fly low altitude, something we don't often get to do at Aviano," said Moore. "The flying here will be a lot less restrictive and give us opportunities for great training."

-- USAFENS --

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