LOUIS TRICHARDT - Four American F15E Strike Eagle fighter planes last week graced the skyline over Louis Trichardt as part of a weeklong training exercise between the United States Air Force and the South African Air Force.

The visit of the Americans to Louis Trichardt follows their participation in the biannual Africa Aerospace and Defence Show held at AFB Waterkloof in September.

The exercise was a joint operation between the two air forces and amongst others entailed air-to-ground and air-to-air exercises, including weapons testing and combat flying. A medical evacuation exercise was also held in conjunction with both AFB Waterkloof and AFB Louis Trichardt.

The American air force personnel who visited Louis Trichardt formed part of a group of some 200 staff members and pilots who came to South Africa for the AAD Show, complete with an array of military aircraft and ground support. Although it was not the only plane they brought along, the F15 Eagle was definitely the most impressive. The plane is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronic systems gives it the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in inclement weather and perform its primary function as an air-to-ground attack aircraft. The aircraft uses two crewmembers, a pilot and a weapon systems officer, and has the capability to fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy the enemy ground positions and fight its way out again. It's powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or 229 engines which can respectively deliver 50 000 pounds of thrust (25 000 each) or 58 000 pounds of thrust (29 000 each. For air-to-ground missions the F15E is most lethal and can carry most weapons in the American Air Force inventory. The plane is unique in that it was the first United States aircraft whose engine's thrust exceeded the plane's loaded weight, permitting it to accelerate even while in vertical climb.

When asked what they thought of the training exercise, Lt-Col Dennis Brown (the group's Director of Operations) replied that although small, the South African Air Force is very capable and sufficient compared to the threat. He had high praise for the hospitality they received, both at Waterkloof and Louis Trichardt, and remarked that the Soutpansberg reminds him of where he grew up in Texas.

Adding to this, the commander of AFB Louis Trichardt, Brig-Gen Willie Hartogh stated that the exercise proofed that Louis Trichardt is capable of supporting such exercises. He also said that the Americans found AFB Louis Trichardt's facilities and operation to be of very high standard.