According to the official webppage of Krzesiny AB, the 31. Tactical Air Base near Poznan, Poland was visited by over 50 officials, including high officers of Chinese Air Force, as part of a study tour of Europe organized by the Command of People’s Republic of China Air Force.
Among the visitors there were commanders of squadrons, pilots of combat units and students of aviation schools.
The main aim of the Chinese visit was to get acquainted with the equipment used by the most modern F-16 base in the Central-Eastern Europe. The visitors were welcomed by Brigadier General Włodzimierz Usarek – the commander of the 2. Tactcal Aviation Wing, and Colonel Jacek Pszczoła – the commander of the 31. AB.
The guests were additionaly accompanied by the deputy chief of the Polish Air Force HQ, Brigadier General Krzysztof Żabicki and Colonel Piotr Cieślik, who is the chief for international relations in the Polish Air Force.
Image Credit: R. Najder
The guests got acquainted with the profile of the unit and the planes that were formerly used in the unit. Later on they went on to see a part of the most modern set of F-16s in Europe (Block 52+ airplanes).
Next they saw how the airfield fire service works and they were guided around the base.
The Chinese delegation had no opportunity to see all of the F-16 stationed normally in Krzesiny, as part of them is currently stationed in Łask AB. 25 F-16s and personnel needed to mantain the aircraft are stationed there due to the additional training that takes place in cooperation with the Nellis detatchment.
During the period of the training the runway in Krzesiny is to undergo routine maitenance.
It is quite interesting to see a visit of officials from a country that is considered as an adversary by NATO in one of the most modern bases in the Central-Eastern Europe.
Jacek Siminski for TheAviationist
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