FCPVisions To serve and support the men, women, families and mission of Luke Air Force Base Spring 2015 Flyovers take patience and precise timing By AIRMAN 308th Fighter Squadron PEDRO MOTA assistant director of opera- 56TH FIGHTER WING tions. “The direction of the PUBLIC AFFAIRS flyover is determined by the organizer.” They are breathtaking, After the target is cho- flawless and can cause sen, the pilots are given the viewer to have goose- a general way of getting bumps. They look easy, in and out of the area, but, according to those who usually arriving within perform them, flyovers 10 to 15 minutes, with a take training, skill and pre- specific speed and altitude cise decisions to execute. determined by Air Force The most recent flown in operational and public the area was the Super Bowl event regulations. flyover, where the Thunder- “Aircraft avionics give birds, officially known as the pilot the necessary infor- the U.S. Air Force Aerial mation to reach the target at Demonstration Squadron, specific time,” Artiges said. passed over University of “For instance, this particular Phoenix Stadium in a Delta Photo by Staff Sgt. Luther Mitchell Jr. flyover had to come at the formation, a tight six-air- Lt. Col. Michael Ebner, 61st Fighter Squadron commander, Maj. Joshua Arki, 61st FS, Maj. Matthew Ol- end of the national anthem, craft V formation. son, 56th Operations Group, and Maj. John Wilson, 61st FS assistant director of operations, and Lt. Col. at the right moment, to “The process starts when Gregory Frana, 61st FS director of operations, make their way to the flightline Jan. 25 as they prepare for make a better impact on the wing headquarters coordi- the first-ever F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter flyover at the 2015 Pro Bowl played at the University of crowd.” nates with the agency,” Phoenix Stadium. The flight was precision timed for the four-ship formation to fly over the open roof of said Maj. Michael Artiges, the stadium as Jordan Sparks sang the final words to the national anthem. MORE FLYOVERS ON 6 INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. FOREIGN TRADE ZONE HOMETOWN HOSPITALITY. INDUSTRIAL PARK BUSINESS INCUBATOR AWARD WINNING HOUSING REGIONAL RECREATION surpriseaz.gov/econdev FCPCW0479 Visions 6x8 Magazine 3_2015 Ad.indd FCP City 1 of Surprise.indd 1 2/25/20152/26/15 4:51:54 10:26 PM AM 2 FCP Visions Spring 2015 From the Desk of Fighter Country Partnership Fighter Country Foundation steps it up a notch We are excited to else in the country. & FCF become very FCF have to work with unveil a new initiative There are plenty of unique. We work with allow projects like this within the operations of public-public/public-pri- senior leadership at to be completed way Fighter Country Foun- vate relationships across Luke AFB to first ensure under budget because dation…the “FAAR the country that are they like the programs we can ask for things to Fund” (Facility Ad- “mutually beneficial” we wish to initiate, and be donated or reduced, vancement And Relief relationships between then we charge ahead. and the military can’t Fund). As FCP and FCF an installation and a We know Luke wants to operate in that fashion. continue forward with third party, but the fact renovate its fire house, Now that the “Of- sustaining its impor- that our offer to the Air but a few cracked tiles fer of Gift” has been tant role of providing Force is simply a “gift” and some torn carpet approved, FCF can now programs and services is what sets us apart. don’t stop our top- officially move towards that are geared towards This initiative exists notch fire fighters from raising the funds. This Health & Human Ser- simply “because we accomplishing their initial FAAR Fund vices, Culture & Tradi- want to do it.” mission. The fact of the project will prove lots of tion and Mission Sus- Luke Fire House #1 is matter is this, if we want things. It will prove to tainability, we will also a community asset just to see Luke Fire House us that we can do it. It add to the resume of as much as it’s a Luke #1 get renovated…we will prove to the com- supporting “facilities” asset. Luke’s first re- need to do it, so we are. munity that we can do on the base directly. sponders answered over It is a simple project; it. But most important- We recently got word 200 calls outside the with the main emphasis ly, it will prove to the Ron Sites from the Department fence line last year by President and Executive Director being a new kitchen military that we can do of the Air Force that being a part of the Au- Fighter Country Partnership and eating area. The it!!! We will document our request to “reno- tomatic Aid Response total project cost is ap- our progress and contin- vate Luke Fire House Program, and more than It isn’t that Luke doesn’t ing mission ready war proximately $200,000, ue to report back. This #1” has been approved, 300 calls in 2013. If want to renovate their fighters. As they focus and we need to thank is just the start of many which has been an inter- you have been reading fire station; it’s more on that mission, the Butler Design Group, projects that FAAR can nal initiative for years our articles, then I don’t like they can’t, and items that are “mission Willmeng Construction focus on, but let’s walk in the making. This is need to educate you that rightfully so. critical” are going to get and LaneTerralever for before we run. And an unprecedented event, the military budgets are Luke’s primary their attention prior to the donated efforts they WALK PROUDLY!!!! and with most things continuously declining mission is to train the other items, like a reno- have contributed thus Good Stuff, FCP and FCF do, hasn’t and sequestration has world’s greatest fighter vation request. far. The collaborations Regards, been done anywhere added to the challenge. pilots while deploy- This is where FCP and partnerships FCP & Ron Sites Luke Air Force Base Give blood 3 times a year! 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org AN AMERICAN CLASSIC Since 1941 Give blood 3 times a year! 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org Whole Blood? Platelets? Power Red? Which blood donation is right for you? Help save the lives of people like Phoenix Police Officer Rob. For generations of families in the West Valley, Luke AFB has served as a constant reminder of the freedoms and liberties all of us enjoy. Glendale remains dedicated to continuing the Luke tradition as the base prepares to welcome www.GlendaleAZ.com/ new generations of pilots for its new F-35 LukeAFB training mission. CW11172 3x4 9_2012 FCP COG Am Classics.indd 1 8/27/12 4:32 PM Give blood 3 times a year! 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) FCP More than 140 bloodwww.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org transfusions were needed to save his life, Visions 12 of them were platelets. Fighter Country Partnership FCP Visions is the official publication of Fighter Country Partnership Schedule your appointment today: 500 Estrella Parkway Suite B2, PMB #479 Goodyear, AZ 85338 Give blood 3 times a year! Ron Sites, Executive Director and CEO (623) 695-9244 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) Delivered quarterly by direct mail and as a special supplement toThe Glendale Star and www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org Peoria Times. Also posted on Fighter Country Partnership website: www.fightercountry.org, UNION HILLS RD. The Glendale Star website: www.glendalestar.com and WEST VALLEY DONOR CENTER Peoria Times website: www.peoriatimes.com CVS/PHARMACY FCP Visions is produced, published and distributed exclusively by Pueblo Publishers, Inc. WALMART MARKET Owners and operators of The Glendale Star and Peoria Times LITCHFIELD RD. GLENDALE Submit news and information to William E. Toops [email protected], 59TH AVE. 59TH DONOR CENTER INDIAN SCHOOL RD. Fax to (623) 842-6013 or mail to FCP Visions, 7122 N. 59th Avenue, Gendale, AZ 85301-2436 Goodyear/Litchfield Glendale Northwest corner of Litchfield and 59th Ave. & Union Hills Rd. Indian School Roads (Just east of CVS) FCP Visons For advertising information, (Just west of Walmart) Publishing Schedule rates and placement contact: Find out more and visit one of Next Issue, Summer C.E. Williams Barbara Duran Hotspot our two convenient June 11, 2015 (623) 847-4601 (623) 847-4608 West Valley donor center locations! [email protected] [email protected] Free WiFi available for donors. Deadline: May 22, 2015 CW0378 3x8 3_2015-FCP United Blood.indd 1 2/9/15 2:09 PM SB0416 3x4 12_2014_FCP Masthead.indd 1 2/24/15 9:01 AM Spring 2015 FCP Visions 3 4 FCP Visions Spring 2015 Join the 2015 March of the Fallen at Verrado Golf Club March of the Fallen ly the minimum weight (MOTF) is a 4.5-mile ruck- one must carry while de- march April 11 through the ployed. White Tank Mountains dedicated to honoring our Registration Fee fallen brothers and sisters and SWAG who gave the ultimate • Ruck, Motivator reg- sacrifice during the war istration includes a T-shirt efforts of Operation En- for successful completion during Freedom (OEF), of the MOTF. Operation Iraqi Freedom • Ruck Marcher Reg- (OIF), and Operation istration fee: 18 and up New Dawn (OND). Their $40/17 and under $15 watch is over now, so we • Motivator Registra- carry their weight upon tion fee: 18 and up $45/17 our backs and continue and under $15 onward in their honor.