Poland's "Peace Sky" at Home in Arizona

Poland's "Peace Sky" at Home in Arizona

DISAM Journal

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March 1, 2009 | Copyright

In the transition from Soviet-built MiG-29s and Su-22s to American-built F-16s, Poland takes on one of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATOs) most aggressive fighter up-starts known as "Peace Sky."

A new generation of Polish Air Force pilots are learning how to fly their country's most advanced fighter, the F-16C/D "Jastrzab" or "Hawk" as it is called, from the Arizona Air National Guard. To date, the central European country has received 41 of the 48 F-16s it has on order and is rapidly increasing its number of qualified pilots with help from seasoned instructors at the 162nd Fighter Wing based at Tucson International Airport.

   When the program started here in 2004, we were training Poland's
   senior pilots and Squadron Commanders. These days we are training
   their junior pilots, said Lieutenant Colonel Will Johnson, an
   instructor pilot in charge of the wing's Polish program. …

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