A-10, C-130 and F-16 aircraft under snowstorm at Bagram airfield, Afghanistan

First measurable snow of the 2013-2014 winter covered the U.S. aircraft based at Bagram airfield, in Afghanistan on Dec. 29, 2013.

Snow accumulated on A-10s, C-130s , C-17s, and F-16s but the snowstorm did not stop flying activities at the largest U.S. airbase in Afghanistan.

First snow at Bagram

On Dec. 15, Bagram main runway was reopened after 121 days during which it was renovated and expanded 2,000 feet to accomodate the incoming F-16 of the 457th Fighter Squadron from Kandahar.

First snow at Bagram

The F-16s take-off and landing distance for the loads they carry are much greater than any other aircraft at Bagram, hence the need to expand it.

First snow at Bagram

The length of the renovated runway not only allows F-16s and A-10s to carry more ammunition, but also allows cargo aircraft to carry more loads.

First snow at Bagram

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

 

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About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.