National Geographic to air first film on Taiwan's Air Force exercise

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) The first documentary on Republic of China Air Force exercises made by the National Geographic Channel (NGC) will be aired in Taiwan Oct. 9, the eve of the country's National Day in its centennial year.

After obtaining permission from the Ministry of National Defense (MND), a NGC crew were given access to the Hankuang 27 Road Runway Exercise in April at Mado, Tainan, to make the nearly 45-minute film titled "Inside: Highway, Runway."

"We're very proud of this opportunity to bring the program about highway landing exercises (to the screen)," said Ward Platt, president of Asia-Pacific and Middle East of Fox International Channels -- which operates NGC in Asia -- at the film's premiere in Taipei Wednesday.

The drill, on one of five remaining sections of the No.1 Freeway on which emergency runways have been established for use in case of war, involved six F-16 A/Bs, Mirage 2000-5s fighters and locally made Indigenous Defense Fighter jets.

A total of 1,500 military personnel from air force bases in Hsinchu, Hualien and Tainan participated in the exercise.

Nine high-definition cameras were set up to catch all the action of the military personnel practicing landings, air resupply and take-offs, Platt said.

Through the program, the NGC brings a unique insight into some of the best aspects of the ROC Air Force, he added.

He also took the opportunity to thank the pilots who did much of the filming from inside their aircraft to offer splendid aerial views.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu said the documentary presents a complete record of the Air Force's unwavering efforts to protect the country.

After the first screening in Taiwan as part of NGC's ROC centennial special, an English-language version of the program will be aired in other parts of the world, Platt said.

http://focustaiwan.tw