2017 Imagi-Nation Fighter Rodeo

[7.62]

An excellent week with many hours of first class competition in the sky over the RoD.
The celebrations are on going in the "Gripen beer garden" this evening with the tab being picked up by "The Avtur Brewing Company" of Balzac.
The win in the head to head by a 14 SQN (the Eagels) pilot is perfect timing.
A resupply C130 flight this morning was requested for a new canopy for a BAe Hawk damaged by a bird strike yesterday.
However most of the load seems to have been several tons of the Avtur brewery's Winter ale "Jet B" which has been the big hit this year.
It is a very strong ale without tasting so but it must be handled with care with spicy food.

Everyone in Balzac knows never to mix Jet B with Mexican!
Maybe we'll tell them next year.



Emergency resupply of the famous Balzac Winter ale "Jet B" from the Avtur Brewery.
Prompt and safe handling by Combat Support of the BSDF.

[7.62]

We look forward to tomorrows event, this should prove the high point of the week.
All the Gripen squadrons are multi role but 21 SQN (The Hammers) spends a lot of time in the anti shipping role. It's members are carefully briefing the other crews for tomorrows attack.
Full use of the Gripens datalink system will be taken advantage of.

This year is the first time the BSDF has sent a reserve compotent to the composite Hawk squadron. Just over 30% are reserve pilots.
All are former full time fast jet pilots, they average over 2,000 hours each. One is the chief pilot of a major Balzac airline.

The RBS 15's are being loaded!

[redleg]

Today was the climax of the Fighter Rodeo, with a massive force on force air battle raging over southern Dalmatia and the Pacific ocean for hours on end. The international force of rodeo competitors took on the ROD’s Carrier Air Wing 2, flying several sorties through the course of the day to attack the carrier battle group and to defend their home airfield.

The battle ebbed and flowed for several hours, until the early afternoon when the international team carried out a successful attack against the ROD Navy. ROD F-16s and BSDF JAS-39s scored some impressive air to air victories, clearing the way for Chrisdom A-6s to make a daring low-level attack against the ships of the battle group. The carrier Tempest was ‘gravely damaged’ and the destroyer Javelin was ‘sunk’.

Afterward the air crews returned to their bases for a debrief, and the Navy pilots joined them for the St. Patrick’s Day party and concert.

The ROD would like to thank all of the participants in this year’s fighter rodeo. Please enjoy the concert and party tonight, and be back tomorrow for the air show and barbecue!

[chrisswim]

The Commonwealth is delighted to have participated again this year. Many of our pilots were able to collaborate with other pilots and crews sharing ideas and techniques. Learned about new weapon systems.
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Of course to build relationships to work together to help solve the problems of nations when the UIN is not able to do so, which is most of the time according to a major, who wished to not identify himself.
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Look forward to next year.

[redleg]

Thanks to all that participated! The MPs are still trying to figure out who filled the base pool with green jell-o, but it seems that most of the suspects have already departed. We're a little concerned about the possibility of hung-over pilots flying away in multi-million dollar aircraft, but then we realized that we are dealing with professionals...the cream of the crop!

A very successful event that reinforced friendships and enhanced interoperability. We're already looking forward to next year's fighter rodeo!

[chrisswim]

The Commonwealth appreciates the hospitality of ROD. All the work of the hosts organizing the competition/training missions and sacrificing their carrier and destroyer. That was very nice of them.
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Also appreciate the Director of the event, RedLeg for all he did for us. Entertaining events.

[7.62]

Thanks Redleg. Once again a first class venue for this important element of modern warfare. Well done and we will be back next year.

The local coverage on Balzac media has had a very positive effect on tourist booking to the RoD. With snow on the ground for most of the week in Balzac, the sights of sun drenched sandy beaches and the warm hospitality is just what the doctor ordered.

The Winter holiday charter flights of Air Balzac will be supplemented by regular scheduled links of the new Flag carrier Balzacian.

PS. Sorry I could not post more, was one of them weeks.