Flying Rhino 2007

By Arnold ten Pas & Jurgen van Toor

For the fifth time in five years, exercise Flying Rhino was held in the Czech Republic. The annual meeting between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Vzdušných Sil (Czech Air Force) focuses on the use of Forward Air Controllers (FAC) and was held at Námešt nad Oslavou and Cáslav this year. Last year, the exercise was overshadowed by the death of six soldiers following the crash of an AAC Lynx. RAF Participation this year consisted of a delegation of Marham based 31sq Tornadas and two Hawks from 100sq. The Army Air Corps contributed sending two Lynx AH9 helicopters while the Czech Air Force participated with L-39s, L-159A's, Mi-35s, Mi-171Sh and Gripens, the latter flying from their home base Cáslav. For the first time the Vzdusne Sily Ozbrojenych / Slovak Air Force participated and sent two Sliac based L-39s. We were invited to visit the air base and did so on 4 may

Námešt Air Base

Formerly a Su-22 and Su-25 base, Námešt nad Oslavou, is situated in the south east of the Czech Republic, called Moravia. The 32.Tactická Letka retired its last Su-25 Frogfoots in December 2000 and took delivery of its first L-159 ALCA's on 10 May 2001. The 321.TPzLt's last ten Su-22 Fitters were withdrawn from use in april 2002 after which the squadron converted to the L-159A ALCA. The 32.zTL gained some L-39C from the disbanded 341.VLt at Pardubice in 2003. The Samostatny Vrtulnikovy Roj operating two Mi-17's was disbanded during the late 90's. A dramatic event took place during 2003 when it was decided to close the base as a frontline fighter base and retire the majority of the brand-new L-159s. After the last ALCAs left in November 2003 the sole remaining squadron received all the L-39ZAs in the Czech AF inventory.Nowadays 22.zakladna letectva heet (22.Air Base) hosts one squadron (221.tl) with L-39ZAs, but in the near future the helicopter squadrons from Prerov will move to Námešt. Constructions to facilitate this move are well underway and participating helicopters were already operating from the new ramps. Besides new ramps the base has received new hangars and work on a NATO-style main gate is underway.

Forward Air Controlling (FAC)

Main goal of the exercise is providing Czech Forward Air Controllers with an opportunity to improve their FAC skills and keeping them up to NATO-standard. Meanwhile, Tornado GR4 crews are training their Close Air Support Skills. The HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division provided its Air Support Operations Centre (ASOC) during the exercise. The role of the ASOC is to task air assets to service Air Target Requests (ATRs) received from the front line of troops and to co-ordinate the safe passage of those air assets through a potentially very busy section of airspace. During Flying Rhino sorties a formation of aircraft can receive up to eight Air Target Requests from the Forward Air Controllers.

RAF 31 squadron

Although the participating Tornados were in different squadron liveries, the delegation was led by 31 squadron. The delegation arrived on 22 april and left again on 5 may, having flown an average of four missions per day. According to delegation leader Mr. Ritch Payne: "Flying Rhino 2007 was one of the best experiences in a single squadron exercise. We have learned a lot from flying with the Czech Forces. Not only have we learned participating with another air force, but also we have learned a lot from each others culture. We were received with great hospitality and we hope to be invited again next year."

Besides training Close Air Support Skills the Tornado GR4s were able to train Air Combat Training against the Czech AF Gripens operating out of ?áslav and the L-159 temporarily based at Námešt. The Tornado's had a difficult time against the modern Gripens. On 18 April 2005 the first six Gripens for the Czech Air Force were delivered from FMV Linköping to ?áslav. Flown by three Czech Air Force pilots, two Swedish Air Force pilots and one FMV pilots the first of fourteen Gripens set foot at Cáslav in the afternoon. The remainder of the fourteen leased aircraft followed in August of that year. The official hand-over took place on 26 April 2005. The lease contract expires in 2015 but the Czech Air Force has announced to consider prolonging the contract or even buying the aircraft.

Operations

During Flying Rhino up to 4 missions a day were flown in different settings. On a typical mission, Mi-171Sh, Mi-35 and Lynx AH9s, were used to transport Forward Air Controllers safely to their positions, followed by take off of L-39s, L-159s and Tornado GR4s. The Tornados and L-159 were also seen operating on their won performing Air Combat Training.

Participants

The following units participated:

Czech Republic

L-39ZA 221.tl

L-159A 212.tl

Mi-35, Mi-24V 231.vrl

Mi-171Sh 232.vrl

Slovak Republic

L-39ZAM 1.SLK

L-39ZA 1.SLK

United Kingdom

Hawk T1A 100sq

Tornado GR4 31sq (lead)

Lynx AH9 1 Regiment