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Foreign Exchange Flying Tours


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Posted

How hard is it to do an exchange tour?I know lots of countries have simiar aircraft.Also is it possible to go to a country where you have to go to language school?

Posted

There are several slots for exchange tours each year. Numerous countries participate. Some require language school or a tested proficiency in that language. I had to do three years of language school for my exchange tour with the USMC.

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

Scoobs,

I'm the current USAF/RAF C-130 Exchange pilot (slicks). Exchange jobs are well worth it, and if you need any language training, you'll get it at the Defence Language Institute in Monterey California paid for by the USAF. Any other questions, let me know...

RAF Yankee

RAF Lyneham

Posted

What other countries have C-130's?Also how competitve was it to get your slot?And what country are you doing it for and how long does it last?

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

The USAF currently has Herc exchanges with the UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Austrailia, Japan, Thailand, and Canada (may be a few I missed and we no longer have one with Germany). The tours last two-and-a-half to three years and some may be on airframes similar to Hercs (ie Transalls). i'm currently on the UK exchange...

RAF Yankee

RAF Lyneham

Posted

There are also fighter tours with the Austrailians, Brits, Germans, USMC, US Navy (F-18 and F-14), and several other foriegn countries. A few years ago we had a Navy F-18 driver on exchange with the Weapons School flying in the Viper Division.

Guest ClemsonFlyBoy
Posted

I am fluent in Italian and really would like to fly and be stationed in Italy. If i speak Italian will that help me or give me a better chance to get in the exchange program and letting me fly in Italy. Italy also has some older f-16's. do you know if they have some sort of program. Where can i find more information on this? thank you

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

Here is the public website for the exchange program:

https://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/special_ut...on/exchange.htm

Flying positions may require certain qualifications (ie. an instructor qual, a certain number of in-command hours, NVG qual, etc.) and I think most require a recommendation from your SQ/CC or Group/CC.

RAF Yankee

RAF Lyneham

Posted

Thanks for the website.How do you enjoy working in the RAF?Do they deploy as much as the U.S.?And is there a link that talks about opportunties in Europe?

[ 04. October 2004, 15:23: Message edited by: scoobs ]

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

The RAF Job is great! I can truthfully say that I've never had this much fun flying in my life. You won't deploy as much, but you don't sit around either. However, as the exchange guy you get some leeway on leave (they know you want to see some of Europe while you're over here). The job is currently accepting applications for my replacement to be report here no later than Jun-Jul 05. Call the number on the website for more info if you're up for a move then. Oh, and I guess the European Exchange guys no longer have a website...

RAF Yankee

RAF Lyneham

[ 05. October 2004, 03:04: Message edited by: RAFYankee ]

Guest PhiPsiViper
Posted

Do we do any exchange tours with the Russians or any former soviet block countries that fly MIG's or SU"s like UKRAINE

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

To All,

If you've got .mil acess, here's the new European exchange Program website

https://wwwmil.usafe.af.mil/direct/PEP/

And I don't think I've heard of any Eastern European (MiG) exchanges for the fighter guys, but ya never know...

RAF Yankee

Posted

Actually there was a Eagle Driver flying the Mig-29 with the Germans a few years ago. Not truly east european, but still flying the Fulcrum.

[ 13. October 2004, 16:20: Message edited by: Clearedhot ]

Guest hockeymv
Posted

The prospect of an exchange tour is part of the reason I chose 130's (and a great week in Germany drinking w/ the 37th while a cadet on OpsAF). My question is how early and often can you apply for these tours? Obviously, a new co-pilot isn't going to have a shot, but is it common for a 2nd MWS tour to be an exchange one, especially for a young captain? I'm assuming you have to be A/C qualified, but do exchange assignments typically want you to be IP qualified as well?

Any suggestions or advice are appreciated.

Guest RAFYankee
Posted

I was a second "term" guy getting the exchange.

Most Herc exchanges require a Herc instructor rating and over a certain number of hours as an Aircraft commander/instructor. And, as with any job, you should really be looking at least a year prior to your PCS date...

RAF Yankee

[ 15. October 2004, 02:04: Message edited by: RAFYankee ]

Guest NimitsTexan
Posted

When I get to that point in my career (sometime between "in the future" and "an eternity") flying F/A-18s ot F-14s for the Navy sounds like the way to get. Tell me, do they let Air Force pilots fly off the carriers?

Posted

Didn't I recently read that a Strike Eagle mission in Alaska was flown by a completely Canadian aircrew?

There was a line of pilots who flew with the GAF 77 Squadron Fulcrums, who passed all their jets to the Poles back in August. They have (had) a great web page. I still have a copy of a brief from one of the US exchange pilots, "Spanky", on how it was to fly the MiG-29. It had to be one hell of a fun tour!

Cheers! M2

Guest ifrflyer
Posted
Originally posted by NimitsTexan:

Tell me, do they let Air Force pilots fly off the carriers?

When I was a Marine F/A-18 maintainer, my squadron did a Med-cruise on the Roosevelt. We had a USAF F-15 exchange pilot, and yes he did fly off the carrier.

That was in 1996-97, not sure what opportunities exist currently.

Good luck

  • 1 year later...
Guest C-21 Pilot
Posted

Where can one find details about this?

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