A National Geographic Channel (NGC) documentary on exercises by the Republic of China (ROC) Air Force will be aired in Taiwan on Sunday, the eve of Double Ten National Day as the ROC celebrates its centennial.
After obtaining permission from the Ministry of National Defense, an NGC crew was given access to April’s Hankuang 27 Road Runway Exercise in Madou (麻豆), Tainan, to make the nearly 45-minute show titled Inside: Highway, Runway.
“We’re very proud of this opportunity to bring the program about highway landing exercises [to the small screen],” said Ward Platt, president of the Asia--Pacific and Middle East division of Fox International Channels — which operates NGC in Asia — at the show’s premiere in Taipei yesterday.
The drill, on one of the five remaining sections of the No. 1 Freeway, which has been established as an emergency runway in case of war, involved six F-16A/B aircraft, 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 as military personnel practiced 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.
Platt also took the opportunity to thank the pilots involved who did much of the filming from inside their aircraft to provide aerial views.
Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) 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.
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