U.S. Air Force 1st. Lt. Todd Walker, 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, discusses aircraft technology with Thunder Lab pilot candidates at the Afghan air force compound, Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 1, 2011. Walker and other aircrew flew three new AAF C-208Bs from Shindand to Kabul to show AAF leadership the AAF's newest aircraft.Thunder Lab is located on the AAF compound and is an English immersion lab with a goal of teaching Afghan lieutenants English before they enter pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber Williams)

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Afghan air force Commander Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, addresses Thunder Lab lieutenants at the AAF compound, Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 1, 2011. Wahab and the select pilot candidates were on hand to see the AAF's newest aircraft, the C-208B which was flown in from Shindand Air Base. The AAF's undergraduate pilot training program is scheduled to start at Shindand in December. Wahab talked to the pilot candidates about the importance of the new aircraft and their continued commitment in serving in the AAF. Thunder Lab is located on the AAF compound and is an English immersion lab with a goal of teaching Afghan lieutenants English before they enter pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Smith)

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Afghan air force Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat, AAF Kabul Wing commander, and AAF Gen. Abdul Baqi, AAF commander of Shindand Air Base, sit inside a new AAF Cessna 208 Caravan airplane, Kabul International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, November 01, 2011. The Cessna’s were on a “road show” tour around Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Smith)

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C-208B Roadshow comes to Kabul

Published Nov. 1, 2011
By Capt. Jamie Humphries
438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Fixed-wing pilots from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group arrived at the Afghan air force base in Kabul and Kandahar recently to display the AAF's newest-fixed wing trainer. Seven aircrew members arrived in three C-208Bs that will eventually be used for the AAF undergraduate pilot training program slated to start at Shindand Air Base in December.

AAF Commander Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, AAF Commander in Shindand Maj. Gen. Abdul Baqi, and Kabul Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat, were on hand to tour the new aircraft and answer questions from local press.

Also at the event were eight select Thunder Lab students who also toured the aircraft, discussed the new undergraduate pilot training program with Wahab and talked about aviation with coalition pilots. Thunder Lab, a program created in May 2010 includes training in aviation terminology, flight simulators and officership, as well as discussions about the differences between American and Afghan cultures.

Three more C-208Bs are scheduled to arrive in Shindand within the week and will complete the fleet of 12 fixed-wing trainer aircraft. Six MD-530 helicopters will be delivered later this year.