Two F-16 Block 70 (BLK70) new-generation fighter jets safely arrived at Taitung Zhihang Base yesterday (2nd). In order to welcome these two long-awaited "distinguished guests" with a high standard, the Air Force made a special move and sent a number of active main military aircraft into the air to accompany and control the event. (Picture: taken from Youth Daily Facebook page)
[Reporter Luo Tianbin/Reporting from Taipei] my country’s first batch of two F-16 Block 70 (BLK70) new-generation fighter jets safely arrived at Taitung Zhihang Base yesterday (2nd). In order to welcome these two long-awaited "distinguished guests" with a high standard, the Air Force made a special move and sent a number of active main military aircraft into the air to accompany and control the event. The old and new fighter jets met in the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and formed a stunning wild goose formation to return together. The footage of the formation was later exposed, making eager military fans and Chinese people exclaim, "It's so handsome!"
This time's aerial wedding lineup can be said to be full of sincerity. The Air Force first dispatched two active F-16 fighter jets to take off first, and flew all the way to the air defense identification zone to meet the new aircraft and provide close flying protection. At the same time, two domestically produced AJT Brave Eagle high-education aircraft also joined the ranks, and the F-16 recorded precious close-ups of American and Taiwanese pilots flying side by side. In order to ensure that the mission is foolproof, the E-2K airborne early warning aircraft, the hero behind the air defense, synchronizes its vigilance in higher and farther airspace, implements strict regional airspace control, and silently opens a protective umbrella to prevent the new aircraft from any external interference during its final flight.
Please read on...
The suitable fuel tanks equipped with the two F-16 Block 70 (BLK70) (the first two) are particularly obvious under the bright sun at high altitude. (Picture: taken from Youth Daily Facebook page)
It is worth mentioning that this Pacific Ocean crossing mission, which spanned more than 13,000 kilometers, adopted the unprecedented model of "Taiwanese and American pilots working together to pilot the flight." The lead aircraft (No. 6727) is flown by a professional pilot from the American Lockheed Martin Company, while the wingman (No. 6728) is personally operated by a Chinese lieutenant colonel pilot stationed in the United States for training. When the fighter jet landed smoothly and slid slowly into the hangar, the sharp-eyed on-site staff immediately discovered that a red national flag with blue sky and white sun on the ground was carefully laid above the dashboard of the cockpit driven by the Chinese pilot. This passionate easter egg instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.
In addition to the surprises in the cockpit, the return of the new aircraft to Taiwan also breaks the low-key style of the past. Looking back at when my country received the first batch of F-16 A/B fighters 29 years ago, the United States required that the national emblem on the fuselage must be temporarily covered with stickers. But this time it was completely different. The US staff had thoughtfully removed all the masking stickers before taking off from Guam. Therefore, when the two brand-new F-16 Block 70 tires touched the runway of the Zhihang base, the low-profile national emblem of "Blue Sky and White Sun" on the vertical tail and wings shined unreservedly in the sun, symbolizing the further upgrade of mutual trust in Taiwan-US military cooperation.
