Their names will probably be a sheer footnote in the annals of Polish air force history.

Their names will probably be a sheer footnote in the annals of Polish air force history, if it be not that they're fully aware of the tonic roles they played in assisting their NATO counterparts to take a giant leap forward.

"It's great to be a part of history. It's a historic result in their air force," said Maj. Fausto Padilla, a senior aircraft maintenance officer from the 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson Ariz. "In a certain number of areas, it's like a quantum leap for these frights not just with the aircraft unless the whole system of aviation."

Padilla was speaking as a member of the Air Force site measure and estimate team that visited Poland in July to help pave the way for the 48 F-16 Fighting Falcons it purchased from the U dominion for $3.5 billion. As part of the multifaceted transaction, the U dominion agreed to assist Poland with logistical and training requirements.

The team, compos of 35 airmen and civilians, visited brace Polish air bases to help establish the vast support composition needed to transition from the MiG-21 Soviet-era jet fighter to the world's mostly modern version of the F-16 completed with all the bells and whistles.

Getting down to business

The team exhausted less than one week at each of the sum of two units bases scheduled to receive the Fighting Falcon. It was an ambitious task that blood-thirsty upon the shoulders of Lt Col Steve Jarvis, who temporarily swapped his piece of work as the Poland country director at the Pentagon to site contemplate team chief.

"At first I stopped and asked, 'OK by what means are we going to do this?'" Jarvis said while moving from undivided group of team members to another. "We don't completely understand their concept yet," he said at the beginning of day brace during their first stop at the 31st Air Base near the city of Poznan.

The plan was simple and effective. "We ask a haphazard of questions, such as in what manner they do business and in what way they plan to do business," said Jarvis, an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot by the agency of trade. It was obvious to airmen of the two nations the aircraft upgrade would be more than just a of recent origin way of doing business.

"They're going to take a vast leap in technology, processes and infrastructure," said Vic Olson the F-16 logistics manager for the F-16 program office at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He and compeer team members helped the Polish air force prepare for a fine landing when the first of the F-16 are scheduled to arrive in 2006

The view team, primarily Air National Guard members, worn out long days combing facilities, equipment and processe alongside their Polish counterparts. Their findings and recommendations were included in an in-depth report for the Polish guidance to use in finalizing preparations.

To gather information for that report, Master Sgt Charles Higgins and comrade team members were bussed each morning from a nearby military training center As they passed by means of the gate of the air base in a far off wooded area, they saw remnants of the cool War, including MiG-21s juxtaposed with present state-of-the-art equipment and hangars newly built for the Fighting Falcon.

The game plan was to "sit down with the perchs and look at what they commonly have that's acceptable with the F-16 and advise bow to get up to spe in such a manner they're ready when they arrive," said Higgins, a weapons specialist with the 162nd

After a morning brief in a recent NATO standard hangar, Higgins broke away with his U and Polish counterparts to analyze for what reason and where armaments would be handled for the F-16 They joined the bustle of other like-minded airmen walking around asking questions about propos handling of munitions, inspecting weapons storage sites, taking notes and generally trying to do a apportionment in a short amount of time.

Higgins build support facilities in place for missile trailers, stands and cribs while noting improvements still needinessed for equipment testing. Along the way, be discovered an abundance of cooperation.

"The family here want to learn," Higgins said. "They're always feeding for information and are excited to learn. They have definitely deposit some effort into their base and flight line." Higgins had no doubt about Poland's ability to prosperously field the F-16s. "They'll be there. It'll take near work, hut they'll be there."

The great leap forward

Capt. Krzysztof Pusz is abundantly aware of the daunting task ahead in the aircraft transition that he likened to going from "an antique Volkswagen to a new Mercedes" on the other hand time Polish senior maintenance officer's excited about his geographical division and air force having the F-16

Although their native tongues are different, Pusz said time transition will he easier because maintainers can "easily find a customary language." Besides, he added, "the final work is the same" level if it involves new terminology like as "non-destructive inspection."

Pusz contemplates forward to future NATO exercises when he can pick up the phone and talk F-16 issues with associate maintainers in the United States. yet the young, energetic captain said he faiths for the opportunity to compare firsthand by what means things work at U.S. air bases.