USAF on display at Africa Aerospace, Defence Expo

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane
  • USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
WATERKLOOF AIR FORCE BASE, South Africa --  A team of U.S. Air Force Airmen took part in the opening day activities of the Africa Aerospace & Defence Exposition 2016 in South Africa, Sept. 14, as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

The total force helped to open the first day of the event, held at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Pretoria, South Africa. The first three days of the five-day event are scheduled to be a trade show for defense officials from various nations and vendors in the industry. The final two days will be an air show open to the public.

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Patrick H. Gaspard; Heidi Grant, deputy under secretary for international affairs; and Brig. Gen. Robert Huston, 17th Expeditionary Air Force mobilization assistant to the vice commander, participated in the opening ceremony events along with industry professionals and embassy officials.

The team is composed of total force Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard and active duty. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band is attending with the jazz music band, Wings of Dixie, who will play events at the expo and in the local community.

On display are a C-130J Super Hercules from Keesler AFB, Louisiana; a New York Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III; an HC-130P/N King, and KC-135 Stratotanker from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; and an MQ-9 Reaper from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York. The aircraft were open for visitors to enter and ask the crews questions.

The AADE 2014 is scheduled to run from Sept. 14 to 18.