480th FS participates in Trapani Air Show

by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/21/2015 - TRAPANI AIR BASE, Italy -- Two F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, participated in the Trapani Air Show at Trapani Air Base, Italy, Oct. 19, 2015.

The air show was kicked off Trident Juncture 2015, a multiservice, multinational training exercise involving more than 30,000 troops from over 30 Allied and partner ations taking place throughout Europe.

"Today's activities demonstrate just one part of Trident Juncture 2015," said U.S. Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. "These multinational forces from air, land, sea and special operations are highly interoperable and have proven capable of conducting complex military maneuvers across the spectrum of operations. Our focus in NATO is that our measures remain defensive, proportional and appropriate."

Aircraft from multiple nations performed flyovers together in numerous formations while static displays of additional aircraft were presented on the ground.

Six Airmen from the 52nd AMXS travelled to Trapani to prepare Spangdahlem's two F-16's for both activities lead by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Trip Bolding, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent.

"When you get the jet in the air, regardless of what type of mission it is flying, that is the best part of our job," Bolding said. "It is especially rewarding when we get to see a flyby over us. It is more up close and personal and is the reason we are here."

The 52nd AMXS Airmen worked alongside other nations' maintenance crews proving that interoperability was not only a factor in the air, but on the ground as well.

"The Italian Air Force was a great host for this event," Bolding said. "We worked with their people and also the Polish air force maintenance personnel. Any time we needed help they were there to lend a hand."

More Spangdahlem Airmen will continue to build upon established relationships with other nations' troops as Trident Juncture 2015 moves forward to increase NATO's readiness and ability to adapt to emerging security challenges.