RAF’s show of strength

The A 4 Force Squadrons from RAF Wittering stole the show at this year’s Air Combat Power Visit in Lincolnshire.

Each year, the Royal Air Force provides a full presentation and demonstration for senior officers from the UK and foreign armed forces. The event, which took place at the end of October, is called the Air Combat Power Visit (ACPV) an dish eldatR AFC onings by in Lincolnshire.

Its main purpose is to show senior defence figure show deployed air operations are sustained.

The RAF’ sn ewe stand most impressive aircraft were in attendance, including the Typhoon and the A400M Atlas. However, the focus for the A4 Force was ‘Deploy & Sustain’ so this year’s event was as much about what happens on the ground as in the air. Deployed air power is sustained by the oxygen of the A4 Force; the engineers andlogisticians who make sure the RAF has everything it needsto keeppilots and aircraft safely in the air, from food to fuel trucks and portable hangars to air launched weapons.

Group Captain Rich Pratley is the Station Commander at RAF Wittering and Commanding Officer of the A4 Force.

He said: “ACPV gives us a chance to talk in detail about what we do. For example, everyone associates 5131 Squadron with bomb disposal. This is correct, but what they may not understand is that 5131 Squadron works on ejector seats and aircraft countermeasures.”

This year was the first ACPV for Flying Officer Gary Kearney of No. 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron.

He said: “When you see all the A4 Force Squadrons together you understand just how essential they are. Put all those different skills in one operation and that’ s where the power is, that’s what keeps operations moving .”