The U.S.Air Force (USAF) successfully conducted an extraordinary exercise that was aimed at evaluating USAF ability to deploy a large aircraft formation.
The exercise involved up to 30 C-130Hercules and almost 10 C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft as well as other special aircraft (included E8 Joint Star) taking off from various air bases from around the United States.
The exercise was also aimed at testing the pilot’s abilities to fly in a large formation and to simulate a mission to get into enemy territory and drop U.S. Army paratroopers, who would then institute a presence on the ground.
The yearly mobility exercise lets the airlift wing the opportunity to perform almost every aspect of a combat mission including intelligence advancement,aircraft loading and launch, airdrops and special operations and landings on semi-prepared runways.
