8 F-16 Planes Ready To Celebrate The 76th Anniversary Of Indonesian Independence

JAKARTA - A total of eight F-16 Fighting Falcon strategic fighter aircraft and six Indonesian National Army (TNI) helicopters are ready to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17.

The readiness of the TNI's defense equipment was marked by the exercise (rehearsal) which took place in Jakarta, Friday, August 13.

On Independence Day, 8 F-16 fighter aircrafts will carry out a fly pass, while 6 helicopters will carry out the Red-White Underslung Giant Flight.

The Head of the Air Force Information Service (Kadispenau), First Marshal (Marsma) TNI Indan Gilang Buldansyah said that today's rehearsal was a preparation before appearing on August 17, 2021.

The rehearsal, continued Marsma Indan, had involved all aircraft in accordance with the number of aircraft that would appear on the day of the event.

"The fly pass involves eight F-16 fighter aircraft, while the Giant Flag Red-White Underslung flight is carried out by six helicopters. Today all of them have carried out rehearsals", explained Kadispenau.

Eight F-16 fighters from the 3rd Air Squadron and 16th Air Squadron will perform a fly pass in Arrow Head formation at an altitude of 1.000 feet.

These eight fighter aircraft will carry out bomb burst maneuvers right above the Merdeka Palace, where the 76th Indonesian Independence Day Commemoration Ceremony will be held.

This flight mission with a callsign (call sign) for Garuda Flight, was led by Lt. Col. Pnb Agus Dwi Aryanto, who served as Commander of Air Squadron 3, Iswahjudi Air Base.

Meanwhile, the Red-White Giant Flag Underslung flight with the call sign "Nusantara Flight" was led by Lt. Col. Pnb Akhmad M. Mulyono, who served as the 6th Air Squadron on a daily basis.

These flight missions are divided into two elements, with three helicopters for each. The two flight elements will fly a giant red-and-white flag, which is 30x20 meters.

The six helicopters consist of one EC-725 Caracal helicopter from the 8th Air Squadron and three NAS-332 Super Puma helicopters from the 6th Air Squadron at Atang Sendjaja Air Base, as well as two NAS-332 L1 Super Puma helicopters from the 45th Air Squadron at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.

The rehearsal, which was held from morning to noon today, was held well and smoothly.

"Thank God, all of today's rehearsals can be held safely, well and smoothly. The next rehearsal will be held on August 14 and 15, 2021", said Indan.