VAW-117 goes to Pakistan.

Normally, Navy aircrews have territorial airspace and boundaries drilled into their heads during transoceanic passage. Knowledge of where one can or cannot fly is paramount and can head off potential diplomatic embarrassments. However, on 11 July 2005, two C-2 Greyhound aircraft from the VRC-30 Providers and an E-2 Hawkeye 2000 from the VAW-117 Wallbangers were privileged to fly into PNS Mehran in Karachi, Pakistan, by invitation. The visit and demonstration was conducted as part of COMFIFTHFLT's Theater Security Cooperation efforts. VAW-117 utilized the unique opportunity to show one of this country's strongest allies in the war on terror some of the technology that has been used to fight it. The three aircraft flew a formation flight into Karachi in less than perfect visibility, with haze and dust obscuring the pilots' vision. Still, Banger 601, Password 27 and Password 23 executed a perfect touchdown. After taxiing to the ramp, the crew of Banger 601 shut down the left engine to allow Pakistani representatives to board. Although on deck for only 90 minutes, the Hawkeye crew--CO Cdr. Yancy Lindsey, LCdr. Armen Kurdian, Lt. Lawrence Nance, Lt. Dennis Barefoot, and Ltjg. Brian Watt--walked over 20 Pakistani military officers through the aircraft, demonstrating the aircraft's basic capabilities and answering general questions about its performance. Cdr. Yancy described the evolution as "an excellent opportunity to strengthen our relations with the Pakistanis and to the display quality of American workmanship."

By LCdr. Armen Kurdian