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CONTACT: Major Paul Salas 631-723-7401
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010
ON SITE: Major Paul Salas 631-723-7401

Long Island New York Air National Guardsmen Head For South African Airshow

Media Advisory

WEST HAMPTONBEACH, NY (09/13/2010)-- More than 20 members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing and a helicopter, are heading for Cape Town, South Africa this week to participate in Africa's largest air show as part of the New York National Guard's partnership program with the South African military. The HH-60 Pavehawk search and rescue helicopter the Airmen are taking to the Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition 2010 will be loaded on board a C-17 Globemaster II cargo plane on Tuesday Sept. 14. Reporters are invited to speak some of the Airmen going to South Africa and observe and film the loading process. The team will depart on Sept. 15. WHO: Major Scott Minas and other members of the 106th Rescue Wing . WHAT: An opportunity to interview members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing who will be representing the United States and New York at a major international aviation air show and trade exhibit that will be held Sept. 21-25 at Ysterplaat Air Force Base, Cape Town. The HH-60 will be loaded on a C-17 assigned to the Air Forces Strategic Air Consortium based at Papa Air Base in Hungary. WHEN: 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14. WHERE: Francis S. Gabreski Airport, Old Riverhead Road, Westhampton Beach Coverage Opportunities: Interviews with 106th Rescue Wing leaders and Airmen preparing to leave for a 10-day mission to South Africa and back. Visual imagery opportunities include the HH-60 being loaded on board the C-17 Globemaster II which will transport the men and helicopter to South Africa and stay as part of the Air Show. Members of the media interested in covering this event must contact Major Paul Salas at 631-723-7401 for access to this secure military facility. BACKGROUND: New York National Guard Air Show Participation: The New York Army and Air National Guard will be sending 75 Soldiers and Airmen, three aircraft, and two Army vehicles to South Africa to participate in this biannual air and trade show in South Africa. New York National Guard personnel participated in this event in 2004, 2006 and 2008. The Army National Guard will send an OH-58 helicopter, which is used in support of domestic operations and the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, along with an M1117 "Guardian" Armored Security Vehicle and the latest humvee ambulance model to the air show. Soldiers from the 442nd Military Police Company, based in Yonkers, will operate he M1117 and medical Soldiers from the 466th Area Medical Support Company in Queensbury, will go on the mission to explain the medical vehicle. The New York Air National Guard will send two aircraft and the bulk of the personnel on the mission. The C-5A Galaxy, flown by the aircrews of the 105th Airlift Wing in Newburgh, that is being used to transport the Army vehicles and helicopter, will be part of the static aircraft exhibits at the show. The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Airport at Westhampton Beach, is sending an HH-60 Pavehawk Rescue helicopter along with highly trained "Guardian Angel" pararescue Airmen to participate in the show. The New York team is being led by Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne, the Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard who is responsible for overseeing New York's State Partnership Program bilateral relationship with the South African military. New York's State Partnership Program: The State Partnership Program (SPP) is a National Guard initiative that encourages relationships, enhances international security and builds capacity across all levels of society with developing nations. Each State and territorial National Guard is partnered with the military of a developing friendly nation. New York's partnership with the Republic of South Africa was initiated in 2003. Since then New York National Guard has been sending military visitors to South Africa and hosting military and civilian visitors in return. A New York National Guard Officer-- Major Scott Williams, a member of the 106th Rescue Wing-- is responsible for maintaining this bilateral relationship is stationed in the American Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Participation in this air show is part of the New York National Guard's ongoing relationship with South Africa. New York's State Partnership Program mission is to create a link between the Republic of South Africa, and the New York National Guard which promotes the exchange of free ideas and opens doors of cooperation in the political, military, economic and social realms. Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition 2010: The five-day event, held every two years, is the largest exhibition of Air, Sea and Land capability on the African continent and will feature defense and civilian exhibitors from around the world, according to the event organizers. The first three days of the event will be a trade show, with the last two days open to the public. An air show is held on those two days. There will be 350 exhibitors from 35 countries according to event organizers. The New York Air National Guard has sent a C-5A from the 105th Airlift Wing to participate in the Air Show in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Aircraft and personnel from Active Air Force units and other Air National Guard units are also participating in the United States display at the show. "Some 80 per cent of the exhibition space has already been booked, which is remarkable considering the worldwide economic situation that has impacted on the global aerospace and defense industry," exhibit director Geoff van Hees said in a press release his agency issued. "The fact that Turkey, China and the United States of America have all booked large national pavilions at AAD2010 underlines their confidence in South Africa and in the potential for business here. It is the first time these three countries are exhibiting at AAD2010 as national pavilions," Hees said. Photo Cutline: An HH-60 Pavehawk search and rescue helicopter of the 106th Rescue Wing.(Photo by Staff Sgt. David Murphy)
© NYS DMNA Press Release:Long Island New York Air National Guardsmen Head For South African Airshow
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1284398481
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Page Last Modified: Sep 13, 2010