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MARRAKECH, Morocco - An F-16 Fighting Flacon from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, lands at the Marrakech, Morocco airport January 23, 2010. Approximately 50 service members and four aircraft from bases in the United States and Europe will participate in the Aeroexpo Marrakech January 27 †30. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Stefanie Torres)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Members of the 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa), 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, South Carolina Air National Guard, and U.S. Embassy team members conduct a foreign object damage inspection in Marrakech, Morocco prior to the arrival of F-16 Fighting Flacons from the 169th Fighter Wing South Carolina Air National Guard. The purpose of the inspection is to remove any objects from the ground that may be ingested by the F-16s intakes during landing. U. S. Air Force aircraft at the event will include two F-16s from the 169th FW, a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah ANG; and a C-130J Super Hercules from the 86th AW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Stefanie Torres).

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, 

Jan 27, 2010 — Approximately 50 U.S. service members and four aircraft from bases in the United States and Europe will participate in the Aeroexpo Marrackech 2010 international air/trade show in Morocco, January 27-30, 2010.

Static display aircraft at the event will include two F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, S.C.; a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard; and a C-130J Super Hercules, from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Air Forces Africa (17th Air Force) Commander Major General Ronald Ladnier; and Major General Brian Tarbet, the Adjutant General, Utah National Guard, are scheduled to be present during the trade show; along with Major General Stanhope Spears, the Adjutant General for the S.C. National Guard. The units are coming in support of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and its air component, AFAFRICA, which has been strengthening cooperation with Moroccan forces since both commands activated in October 2008.

AFAFRICA traces its heritage, including the 17th Air Force designation, back to its origins at Rabat, Morocco in 1953. The unit was also headquartered at Wheelus AB, Libya from 1956-1963 before moving to Germany.

The Utah National Guard has forged a partnership through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Morocco for more than six years, supporting six different activities in 2009, to include medical, engineering, disaster preparedness, and medical exercises and activities.

Air Forces Africa and other unit Public Affairs representatives will be on hand to coordinate interviews and other requests from the media. For more information, please contact the 17th AF Public Affairs representative in Morocco at (808) 659-2134, or +49 (0)1515-286-9898. To contact the 17th Air Force PA office at their Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Headquarters, call 001 49 6371-47-9257.