Air Force holds ‘flight mission’ over Visayas

Two of the twelve FA-50 Light Attack Aircrafts acquired for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) modernization was presented at Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base on Wednesday morning. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)

ILOILO City – You might have heard jet fighters or sonic booms yesterday. It was just the Philippine Air Force conducting “over-flight/familiarization flight mission” in the Visayas airspace.

The Air Force recently acquired 12 FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighters Trainer Aircraft units from the Korean Aerospace Industries, Ltd. under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program.

It wants to “demonstrate its present air power capability to the public” through the flight mission “in areas of the country where [Air Force] bases, Air Divisions and Tactical Operations Groups are stationed.”

Such areas included Mactan Island; Roxas City in Capiz; Kalibo, Aklan; Iloilo City; and Bacolod and San Carlos cities in Negros Occidental.

“This is to also show the general public that these new air assets are vital in strengthening the country’s territorial borders, and that the [Air Force] already reentered the supersonic era,” the Air Force said in a Facebook post.

“The over-flight missions will also serve as a great avenue to train the pilots and allow them to be acquainted with the various aspects in flight missions, such as the country’s different terrains, weather and possible areas of interest,” the Air Force added.

The Air Force said it will conduct the same activity in other areas, specifically in Mindanao./PN