Singapore’s F-15s fly Tucson skies
By Craig Smith.

DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz (KGUN9-TV) - There are some speedy new guests in Tucson's skies.

We are used to seeing Air Force A-10s from Davis-Monthan but these are F-15s, and they are not from the U.S. Air Force; they are from the Air Force of Singapore, training in the United States.

It's rare to be close enough to hear a warplane's engines spin up to speed, and these are especially rare birds.

The streamlined lion near their nose marks them as from the Singapore Air Force.

Singapore's pilots are at Davis-Monthan training with the U.S. Air Force. The training unit is normally at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, but runway work there put them on temporary assignment here.

Singapore is a small island nation dedicated to a tough military. It's in a tough part of the world; in the shadow of powerful nations like China.

Military analysts say the F-15s built to Singapore's specs are the most advanced in the air with more powerful engines and upgraded electronics compared to older models.

The Singapore pilots and ground crews were not approved to talk with us, but members of the U.S. Air Force supporting the training say it's been interesting working with Singapore.

Staff Sergeant Doron Holmes is providing security for the Singapore unit. He is with the 366th Security Force Squadron.

“Since we're allies we kind of like share our countries. We share our culture and we share our likes and dislikes and we share the fight," he said.

It's not unusual for the U.S. military to train foreign pilots in planes originally designed for the U.S.

At Tucson International, the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Training Wing makes a specialty of training foreign pilots in the F-16.

Now the Singapore Air Force F-15s are about to head back to Idaho, to continue training there, to defend their island home on the other side of the world.

http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kgun9/ne...319725311.html