There was something unusual flying in the skies over Vermont on October 21st, 1999! Six German AF MIG-29s landed at Burlington IAP, Burlington while en-route from CFB Goose Bay, Canada to Nellis AFB, NV. to participate in a 'Red Flag' exercise to play the role of adversaries. They were welcome into US air space and escorted to Burlington by five F-16s from the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont ANG. Led by Wing Commander Col.Knut Rutze, the MIGs performed a flyover before landing at Burlington IAP, followed by the 158th's F-16s. Among the 158th FW's pilot was LtCol. W.Etter, 158th Operations Group Commander who recently reached 3,000 hours on the F-16. "Flying side by side with the Mig's was a great experience, one that I never would have dreamed of 11 years ago" said Etter.

Col.Rutze and his men were very excited about participating in the 'Red Flag' exercise. This was the first time real MIGs were used to fly adversarial tactics. 'Red Flag' exercises are large scale realistic exercise held four times a year at Nellis AFB and this was the first participation of MIG-29s to such exercise. More than 100 aircraft participated in this 'Red Flag' and the presence of the MIGs added a large part of realism to the exercise.

These Russian made fighter jets flew for the former East Germany and the Warsaw Pact before becoming part of the German Air Force after the Berlin Wall came down and the German reunification in 1990. Today, the MIG-29s are flown by the pilot of 'Jagdgeschwader 73' (Fighter Wing 73) based at Laage Air Base near Rostock on the Baltic Coast in the former East Germany. 'JG 73' also flies the McDonell F-4F and maintains an alert role and polices the skies over the five republics that comprised former East Germany. While many MIG-29 pilots are former F-4 pilots who were trained in the United States, others are former East German AF and had to learn to fly western-style tactics. Armed with Russian built 'AA-11 Archer', the MIG-29 is a formidable threat for any other aircraft facing it in the sky. The MIG's helmet-mounted sight allows its pilot to shoot the thrust vectored missile where its aircraft is not pointing, up to forty-five degrees.

The MIGs were accompanied by three C160D 'Transal', carrying spare parts, maintenance equipment and more than 200 ground crews during their deployment to Nellis AFB, NV. When the MIGs stopped again in Burlington on Nov. 9 during their return flight to CFB Goose Bay before crossing to Europe, not many people realized that it was also the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall. 10 years ago, the same planes flying in East Germany were real ennemies!

The 'Green Mountain Boys' were very happy to host the MIGs and sure would love to see them again next year in a 'Red Flag' to which the 158th FW will participate.

(All photos by P.Colin, Oct.1999)

(Click on the thumbnails to view a larger photo)