A Ukrainian warplane covered 9,000 km., crossing seven time zones and climatic regions, sustaining adverse weather conditions, on the Ukrainian Air Force's first transatlantic mission.
An SU-27UB fighter with a crew led by Col. Ivan Chernenko, Squadron Leader, Pilot First Class, took off at Ivano-Frankivsk and landed at the Seymour Johnson Air Base. The Colonel has on more than one occasion vied for the Ukrainian colors in international air shows. This was the first ex-Soviet fighter's flight over the Atlantic.
The mission was carried out as a Ukrainian response visit to the Fourth US Air Fighter Wing. After Ukraine joined the NATO Partnership for Peace Program the idea of establishing friendly ties between US and Ukrainian air bases was conceived. Last summer, US F-15E fighters visited Myrhorod and this year came the turn of the Ukrainian SU-27-X.
The Americans were delighted by the SU-27's performance and characteristics, and the Ukrainian pilots admired the F-15E, especially its electronic equipment and the crew's professional level. Another thing they liked was the USAF tradition whereby the crew landing after the first mission was presented an open bottle of champagne.
The command and the crew considered the transatlantic mission as a very useful experience. A lot of things were seen and learned and the Ukrainian side showed a very good performance. Most importantly, now they had an experience of extra far-range missions and made friends with colleagues across the ocean. The local press wrote that the Americans and Ukrainians have reunited again.
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