Air force drill to be held for first time on Pingtung highway
ROC Central News Agency
2011/11/09 20:52:49
Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) Taiwan's air force will practice aircraft landings and takeoffs on a Pingtung County highway for the first time, during a military drill that begins Nov. 14, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday.
The Jiadong section of Provincial Highway No. 1 will be used for eight military aircraft, including F-16, Mirage 2000 and Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets, E-2K Hawkeye early warning aircraft and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, the ministry said.
In addition to takeoffs and landings, the drill will involve refueling, repair and maintenance of aircraft, which will all be carried out on the 3-kilometer stretch of road.
Two nearby temples have trimmed their trees to help facilitate a smooth operation, the ministry said.
The airforce drill, which will be held Nov. 17, will be part of a five-day nationwide military exercise involving about 3,400 members of the three main branches of Taiwan's armed forces. In one of the live exercises, the Army will be pitted against the Marine Corps.
"More than 1,400 military personnel will take part in the air force exercise," Wang Hsuan-chou, director of the combat training department under the MND's Air Force Command Headquarters, said at a news conference.
Spectators can go to places such as Jia-Dong Junior High School to see the military exercise, Wang said.
In April, a military emergency landing and takeoff drill was held on the Madou section of National Freeway No. 1 in Tainan City, southern Taiwan. The aircraft used were CH-47 transport planes, AH-1W helicopters, and F-16, Mirage 2000-5 and IDF jet fighters. (By Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/ pc
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
