F-15 pilot promotes mission understanding at international airshow Published July 25, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Kathleen Ferrero 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW, United Kingdom -- An F-15C Eagle pilot from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed here to promote understanding about the aircraft and its mission at the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow July 14-20. The airshow is the world's largest trade exhibition of its kind, according to the event Web site. It showcases aerospace technology to professionals from 40 countries. U.S. military presence here helps to promote standardization and interoperability of equipment with NATO allies. It also demonstrates that U.S. industry is producing equipment critical to the success of current and future military operations. "There are so many people that I've met who are fascinated with the F-15 and what it can do," said Maj. Roland Hillier, who has flown F-15s for more than 10 years. "It's satisfying to be able to answer the questions people have and just talk about it." The major has worked 10- to 12-hour days at the DoD static display helping other Air Force and Navy air crews tow planes around and talking to more than 100 distinguished visitors. For example, he helped two businessmen from BAE Systems understand the impact of one of their products, Data Link, to current operations. "It's given us an immense amount of situation awareness that we didn't have," he said. Later, he explained that Data Link provides warriors with a geographic depiction of where everybody is, such as strike packages. The old way of doing things was deducing their location through timing and radio communications. The presence of the more than 50 U.S. military personnel at Farnborough spreads understanding of DoD's mission as well as supports industry. "Our purpose is to get out to the public and instill faith in the United States military," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Schmidt, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team crew chief from Langley Air Force Base, Va. The F-22 team made its trans-Atlantic debut during a demonstration at Farnborough Monday. Getting out and meeting people from around the world broadens minds, said Capt. Brian Vizzone from McChord Air Force, Wa. "All they see is what's in the media," said the C-17 Globemaster III pilot. "Here, they get hands-on experience. They see that the C-17 does more than fly the Army into Afghanistan and Iraq. "We do humanitarian relief missions," Captain Vizzone said. "I did one in Thailand, and we did tsunami relief in Indonesia." The Farnborough airshow is open to trade professionals from around the world this week and to public visitors this weekend. At the last airshow in 2006, 270,000 visitors attended over seven days: 140,000 trade visitors from Monday to Friday, and 130,000 public visitors during the weekend. Info Sidebar -- U.S. Military Participation at the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow: Aerial Demonstrations - F-22 Raptor (on Monday only) - F/A-18 Super Hornet - F-16 Fighting Falcon - B-1B Lancer Static Displays - C-130J Hercules - T-1A Jayhawk - C-17 Globemaster III - F-15 Eagle - F-16 Fighting Falcon - F/A-18 Super Hornet