The DEW Line pal and frequent commenter Airpower stayed on-scene in Dubai long after many of his less-patient mates in the trade press flew off, regretfully including your blogger.
Lucky that Airpower stayed. He posted two comments on my blog last night that solves the mystery about what happened at the Ministry of Defense's surprise 3pm press conference yesterday, and also what happened during the F-22's first exercise encounter with the Typhoon and Rafale.
Get ready for disappointment. Airpower writes in:
But what about the appearance of six F-22s at Al Dhafra air base this week? A Royal Air Force spokesman told Craig Hoyle, Flight's defence editor, that Al Dhafra would host equal numbers F-22s, Typhoons, Rafales and jets from the UAE and Pakistan this week as part of the advanced tactical leadership course (the UAE's Red Flag or TLP).
Airpower also comments:
Lucky that Airpower stayed. He posted two comments on my blog last night that solves the mystery about what happened at the Ministry of Defense's surprise 3pm press conference yesterday, and also what happened during the F-22's first exercise encounter with the Typhoon and Rafale.
Get ready for disappointment. Airpower writes in:
Yes, there was a surprise alright - a nasty one for Aermacchi. The Thursday announcement was cancelled by the hosts with pretty much no notice, while several Aermacchi people were actually SITTING AND WAITING in the intended conference room. Whatever is going on with the jet trainer deal it is starting to look like bad news for somebody...Airpower refers above to the Alenia Aermacchi M346 Master, which the UAE Ministry of Defense selected last February as a jet trainer and light attack fighter. My colleague Siva Govindasamy, Flight's Singapore bureau chief, also attended the air show, and will publish a story next week in the magazine that adds a bit of context to this turn of events.
But what about the appearance of six F-22s at Al Dhafra air base this week? A Royal Air Force spokesman told Craig Hoyle, Flight's defence editor, that Al Dhafra would host equal numbers F-22s, Typhoons, Rafales and jets from the UAE and Pakistan this week as part of the advanced tactical leadership course (the UAE's Red Flag or TLP).
Airpower also comments:
The F-22s did not participate in ATLC. They were planned in as part of the exercise, then shortly beforehand they were withdrawn. Six jets were still deployed to Al Dhafra but they did not come out to play with the other boys and girls (OK, there were no girls). The USAF representatives at the show refused to acknowledge the aircrafts' presence or explain what they were doing in the UAE. If anyone can enlighten us...Yes, please, enlighten us. Anybody.
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