CRUZEX 2013 - Lots of different aircraft...

[reineves]

Between day 5 until day14 of November came another edition of CRUZEX ( Exercise Southern Cross ) in Brazil . This was a multinational air exercise organized by the Brazilian Air Force and aimed to train in advanced missions conducted in the environment of modern warfare . The cooperation and good relationship between the Air Force participants increased after participation in a training at this level . The main base of operations was the Natal Air Force Base , where they were based fighters and helicopters . In Recife Air Force Base were based refueling and electronics surveillance aircraft. Both Air Force Bases are in the northeast of Brazil , across the Atlantic Ocean .
During the event the various Air Forces were able to simulate various combat situations in a real war scenario . They conducted a great learning with friendly forces and also everyone could exercise their techniques . In this edition the following countries participated and their aircraft :

Brazil :
14 fighters Northrop F - 5M
04 Fighters Dassault Mirage F -2000
07 AMX attack aircraft A- 1
03 reconnaissance aircraft AMX RA- 1
05 light attack aircraft Embraer A- 29
02 surveillance aircraft electronic E- 99
01 tanker KC - 130 Hercules
02 transport C - 130 Hercules
02 transport EADS C -105 Amazonas
01 SAR EADS C -105 Amazonas
04 Helicopters Sikorsky H - 60L Blackhawk
03 Helicopters MIL MI 24 AH - 2 Sabre
01 Helicopter Bell H - 1H
01 helicopter H -34 Eurocopter Super Puma

USA
06 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon
01 Tanker Boeing KC -135 Stratotanker .

Uruguay:
03 Cessna A- 37 Dragonfly.
03 aircraft FMA IA -58 Pucara .

Colombia :
01 Tanker Boeing 767-200 Jupiter
04 aircraft Cessna A- 37 Dragonfly

Venezuela :
05 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon

Canada:
02 transport C - 130J Hercules

Ecuador :
03 light attack aircraft Embraer A- 29

Chile :
06 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon
01 Tanker Boeing KC -135 Stratotanker

Reporters and photographers accredited by the Brazilian Air Force were very well received, having access to several spotting points, always accompanied by bilingual military staff and record all activities on the ground. On day 05 the press actively participated in media day, when 84 journalists were able to interview the commanders of the forces involved. Thanks to Brazilian Air Force!

The big news in this issue was the "shot validation" in real time , allowing greater realism in the fighting , with the immediate withdrawal of the plane " shot down " .
The Brazilian Air Force revield the first unit of the modernized model A- 1M AMX now able to operate with a brand new multimode radar and new integrated weapons systems , which increases in twenty years his operations . Cruzex also debuted the Russian helicopters Mil- MI , in Brazil called Sabre .

For ten days the skies of northeastern Brazil were scratched by contrails and the noise of the fast and furious jets in their fierce fighting. The airport of Natal city saw a jam in your taxiway when taking off F-16, Mirage F-2000, F-5M, A-1 AMX, Pucarás, A-37 and A-29, mingled with Boeing 737, Airbus A-320 and ATR-72. Sweet noise for aviation enthusiasts and an unforgettable sight for spotters!



F16 - Venezuela



F-5EM - Brazil



F-16 - Chile



A-1 AMX - Brazil



Mirage F-2000 - Brazil



A-29 - Equador



A-H2 Sabre - Brazil




Boeing 767 KC - Júpiter - Colômbia



E-99 - Brazil



A-37 - Colômbia e A-29 Ecuador


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F-16 - Venezuela and Chile


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[reineves]

F-16 ( USAF )



F-16 ( Chile )




KC-135 ( USAF )

[Hans Rolink]

Great shots of a great event, Reinaldo!

Hans.

[Tigerspoon]

Great shots. Those Super Tucano look great!

[Marco]

Between day 5 until day14 of November came another edition of CRUZEX ( Exercise Southern Cross ) in Brazil . This was a multinational air exercise organized by the Brazilian Air Force and aimed to train in advanced missions conducted in the environment of modern warfare . The cooperation and good relationship between the Air Force participants increased after participation in a training at this level . The main base of operations was the Natal Air Force Base , where they were based fighters and helicopters . In Recife Air Force Base were based refueling and electronics surveillance aircraft. Both Air Force Bases are in the northeast of Brazil , across the Atlantic Ocean .
During the event the various Air Forces were able to simulate various combat situations in a real war scenario . They conducted a great learning with friendly forces and also everyone could exercise their techniques . In this edition the following countries participated and their aircraft :

Brazil :
14 fighters Northrop F - 5M
04 Fighters Dassault Mirage F -2000
07 AMX attack aircraft A- 1
03 reconnaissance aircraft AMX RA- 1
05 light attack aircraft Embraer A- 29
02 surveillance aircraft electronic E- 99
01 tanker KC - 130 Hercules
02 transport C - 130 Hercules
02 transport EADS C -105 Amazonas
01 SAR EADS C -105 Amazonas
04 Helicopters Sikorsky H - 60L Blackhawk
03 Helicopters MIL MI 24 AH - 2 Sabre
01 Helicopter Bell H - 1H
01 helicopter H -34 Eurocopter Super Puma

USA
06 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon
01 Tanker Boeing KC -135 Stratotanker .

Uruguay:
03 Cessna A- 37 Dragonfly.
03 aircraft FMA IA -58 Pucara .

Colombia :
01 Tanker Boeing 767-200 Jupiter
04 aircraft Cessna A- 37 Dragonfly

Venezuela :
05 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon

Canada:
02 transport C - 130J Hercules

Ecuador :
03 light attack aircraft Embraer A- 29

Chile :
06 Fighters General Dynamics F - 16 Fighting Falcon
01 Tanker Boeing KC -135 Stratotanker

Reporters and photographers accredited by the Brazilian Air Force were very well received, having access to several spotting points, always accompanied by bilingual military staff and record all activities on the ground. On day 05 the press actively participated in media day, when 84 journalists were able to interview the commanders of the forces involved. Thanks to Brazilian Air Force!

some corrections on your numbers:
Brazil :
14 fighters Northrop F - 5M 17x
04 Fighters Dassault Mirage F -2000 5x
01 tanker KC - 130 Hercules 2x
02 transport C - 130 Hercules 2x2 (switched during the weekend)

Colombia :
04 aircraft Cessna A- 37 Dragonfly 6x

About your ideas about how to handle the press. Many people do not share your opinion. From what I heared was that a lot of 'press' was not happy at all. The longer time we spend outside, the more 'press' came to watch from outside as that was a better stable position.

[reineves]

Marco
Thanks for corrections.

Unfortunately you can not please everyone. Some photographers want pictures next, others want to shoot the planes taking off from a front view, others prefer the side view and thus became impossible for the Brazilian Air Force control photographers in different locations at the same time. Whereas Cruzex is a military exercise and not an air show, the press service was excellent.

[Hans Rolink]

Marco
Thanks for corrections.

Unfortunately you can not please everyone. Some photographers want pictures next, others want to shoot the planes taking off from a front view, others prefer the side view and thus became impossible for the Brazilian Air Force control photographers in different locations at the same time. Whereas Cruzex is a military exercise and not an air show, the press service was excellent.

A bit mixed feelings on this.
First, the press service was excellent once it worked. The photo locations were fine for both runways, but why did it have to take some two hours to get us from the press centre to the photo spot on Wednesday? That is the reason why Marco got company from press people outside the base. I nearly did this myself too, had I not overheard a conversation between a Brazilian officer and some press people during which improvement was promised. And improve it did! Thursday and Friday were great!

Hans.

[reineves]

Cruzex, the editor's choice.

I started posting my chosen photos from cruzex on my website and I ended the job yesterday . On the site I wrote a text about each photo, here I will translate and post only the text on the picture of KC-130. ( sorry about my english)

The KC -130 landed late afternoon , illuminated by the rays of the setting sun was coming , giving it a yellowish , warm hue . I was photographing the KC -767 Jupiter and clicked the Hercules off the main track and headed for the taxiway . So I " saw " the picture. Within moments the aircraft would pass beside of the hangar and was partially lit by the sun rays through the gaps between the roofs . I ran about 100 meters in the longitudinal direction of the taxi line that the plane came running and got breathlessly position myself in time to perform two sequential shots with Hercules spinning motors parked behind his "brother" and a beam of light illuminating exactly the rotors . The next moment the aircraft continued the taxi and plunged into shadow. Computer monitor, I realized that that picture had the potential for a work of digital manipulation targeting a surreal end result ! As I photographed at low speed , the rotors were a perfect ring on your spin. Hit the horizon , reinforced the contrasts , colors, decrease the brightness of the clouds , and in this case the yellow tones of the setting sun highlighted in the image , contrasting sharply with the dark clouds and adding a touch of painting and photography . One of my favorite pictures !




A little Dragonfly



F-5 and press



A-H2 Sabre

[CR-74050]

Very nice shot indeed!

[kmarrie]

How funny,

that press guy on photo number three is Mr. Henk d V. from Holland.

Ciao

[reineves]

Little Dragonfly

[Erik_7Xi]

That A-37 shot is awesome, great composition and the evening light makes for a very moody photo.

I personally find the A-37 one of the most difficult jets to photograph as the large wingtip tanks obscure most of the aircraft when shooting it from the side.
I like this shot a lot!