Spangdahlem's pilots; diplomats in the skies

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jillian Torango
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria --  Flying is all in a day's work for Spangdahlem's F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 480th Fighter Squadron, but during the three-week Operation Thracian Star combined weapons training deployment here, they are also diplomats.

In one of the biggest aircraft deployments the Bulgarian base has ever seen, the cooperation and partnership began even before the U.S. Airmen hit the ground.

"This is a formal and carefully planned exercise," said Lt. Col. Andrew Wolcott, 480th FS commander. "We've been planning for this and meeting with our Bulgarian counterparts
for a few months."

Bulgarian air force Maj. Nikolay Rusev, 2nd Fighter Squadron commander, echoed his agreement. "We didn't need much time to integrate for the purpose of obtaining our mutual goals," he said. "What is most important for us from this exercise is to forward our U.S. and Bulgarian relationship to a new, higher level and we are doing that."

The U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen are building relationships the best way they know how -- by flying together.

Airmen from each country had the opportunity to both fly against and inside of the other's aircraft and because of this, the training and mutual understanding between them is strong.

"We are getting invaluable training in dissimilar air combat and we also get flying experience in different aircraft, different communication standards and different doctrines" said Major Rusev. "We have one of the biggest deployments we have ever had here -- everyday we put a mix of 15 U.S. and Bulgarian aircraft into the air to fight simultaneously and it is a great challenge and opportunity for us to master our skills."

According to Colonel Wolcott, those are exactly why this training deployment is so important.

"Our aims here are multi-faceted -- to build partnership and to train on basic fighter maneuvers. All of the training here in Bulgaria has been focused on what we can accomplish together," he said. "We have many different missions between us and because of that we're learning how each other's service operates."

The Airmen from both countries hope to continue their partnership well after this exercise ends and with the cooperation between the two air forces combined with the realistic training opportunities, the stage is set for future interactions.

"We've been able to get to know each other and learn how each air force operates," said Colonel Wolcott. "Hopefully we'll be flying with each other again during future deployments here in Bulgaria."