PHOTO: Royal Thai Navy Bell 212 helicopter lands aboard USS Essex

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110216-N-4743B-095 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 16, 2011) Sailors direct a Royal Thai Navy Bell 212 helicopter as it prepares to land aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2011, a U.S. and Thailand co-sponsored multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability between participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam M. Bennett/Released)

US Navy deploys VR-62 Nomads C-130 to Atsugi

NAS Jacksonville-based VR-62 ‘Nomads’ has deployed one of their four C-130 Hercules aircraft on a three-month detachment to NAS Atsugi, Japan. The crews will rotate in and out of theater and will support Navy and Marine activities throughout the Asia-Pacific, beginning with Ex Cobra Gold in Thailand.

PHOTO: AV-8B Harrier lands aboard the USS Essex at Cobra Gold

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110213-N-8607R-204 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 13, 2011) Aviation boatswain's mates watch as an AV-8B Harrier jet lands aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is participating in exercise Cobra Gold 2011, a U.S. and Thailand cosponsored multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability between participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)

RTAF to investigate double F-16 crash

Bangkok Post Photo

The RTAF will conduct an investigation of yesterday's crash of two of its F-16s. The aircraft were part of a flight of four F-16ADFs from the RTAF's Wing 1 based at Nakhon Ratchasima. The crash occurred in the neighbouring province of Chaiyaphum.

Thai F-16s collide during Cobra Gold sortie; both pilots safe

Soon after the fatal crash late last year, two Royal Thai Air Force F-16s have crashed after a mid-air collision during a Exercise Cobra Gold sortie. Both pilots ejected safely after the collision, which happened in Chaiyaphum province.