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.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS