![]() It's critical for our mission proficiency. "They keep the range safe, but they keep it as realistic as they can. Les Bradfield, A-10 pilot from the 442nd Operations Support Flight. Pilots have high praise for the range's staff. Our biggest thrill is when pilots deploy, and they come back and say, 'We didn't lose a pilot or a plane.' That means we're doing our job here." ![]() "All the simulation is invaluable to pilots. Randy Flores, the range's non-commissioned officer in charge. "Our mission statement is to provide a relevant, realistic range for aircraft," said Senior Master Sgt. Sporting numerous targets, the range is vital in helping 442nd Fighter Wing A-10 pilots sharpen their war-fighting skills - without it, "hog drivers" would have to fly to ranges in Arkansas or Kansas, which would increase flight time and decrease training time. "They make up about 80 percent of our flights." The range has a host of customers, including Army and Air National Guard units, but the "primary users are A-10s from Whiteman (Air Force Base)," said Lt. Leonard Wood's Cannon Range, near Laquey. There aren't many jobs where you have to drive a road grader, put out a fire, build a Soviet T-72 tank, run a lawn mower, and be ground eyes and ears for combat aircraft.īut that's all in a day's job for the Air National Guardsmen of the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Wing Detachment 1 at Ft. ![]()
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