Aircraft survey the route for National Day rehearsals
By Lo Tien-pin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters from the three branches of the military yesterday morning conducted a route survey ahead of flight rehearsals for this year’s Double Ten National Day celebrations, with the Ministry of National Defense promising a spectacle similar to previous years while incorporating more challenging formation maneuvers.
Air force F-16Vs, Mirage 2000s and Indigenous Defense Fighters took part in the rehearsal. On National Day, each fighter type is to fly in a five-aircraft “V” formation and conduct a fly-by over the Presidential Office in Taipei, the ministry said.
The air force’s Thunder Tigers Aerobatic Team is also to perform in domestically manufactured AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle advanced jet trainers. The team is to perform over the Presidential Office while trailing white, red and blue smoke, the ministry said.
The air force’s Thunder Tigers Aerobatics Team flies near the Presidential Office in Taipei on Oct. 10 last year.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
Lockheed P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft and Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft are to fly in a mixed slow-speed formation, it said.
Given the size of the two aircraft types, flying in a large formation tests the pilots’ coordination and skills, it said.
In addition to the fixed-wing aircraft, the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command and the navy are to deploy five types of helicopters, including CH-47SD Chinooks, which are to open the National Day celebrations by flying in formation while carrying giant national flags, the ministry said.
Following the Chinooks are AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters, UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters and the navy’s S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, it said.
The ministry is to conduct three more early-morning rehearsals on Wednesday next week, Oct. 2 and Oct. 5 from 6:05am to 7:40am.
The schedules could be delayed because of weather, it said.
The ministry urged aviation enthusiasts to check weather forecasts on the scheduled days.
It also warned that the number of aircraft and helicopters flying over Taipei during the rehearsals and the National Day celebrations could produce loud engine and rotor noise, and urged the public not to be alarmed.
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