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Air-to-Air Refueling Training Event in August

Air Force
Publication date 20.8.2019 10.45
Press release

Karelia Air Command will conduct an Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) training event for F/A-18 pilots in cooperation with the 100th Air Refueling Wing, United States Air Forces in Europe, from 27 to 28 August.

F/A-18 and KC-135R aerial refueling aircraft

In total, 8-12 Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters will participate in the training event. The training will be conducted in cooperation with a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), based at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom.

The training event will take place in Finnish airspace in an area bordering on Rovaniemi, Oulu, Kajaani and Kuusamo from 27 to 28 August. The Finnish F/A-18s will fly from Rissala, Rovaniemi and Pirkkala air bases, while the KC-135R will operate out of its home base, RAF Mildenhall.

The Finnish Air Force conducts AAR training events with partner nations’ air forces regularly; the previous similar training event took place in February 2019. The aim of the training events is to provide AAR proficiency and currency training for the Finnish F/A-18 pilots.

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