Ventoran Air Force

The Ventoran Air Force is the of Ventora. Captain General Emus Carlos Goudora Coincomento y Barcezela is the current Chief of Aerial Operations and senior officer of this branch of the Ventoran Armed Forces. He is responsible for a force of 23,100 active duty and 97,453 ready reservists who fly 417 aircraft and operate the entire air defense system. They are responsible for protecting Ventora's skies, ensuring air superiority over combat zones, and providing aerial support to surface forces as needed.

Origins
Use of balloons and lighter-than-air ships by the Ventoran Army and Navy was intermittent during the 19th century. As the War Staff observed the implementation of fixed-wing aircraft in combat roles during the First World War, it became apparent the country should develop an air arm of service with appropriate skill and tactics. King Florián I did not accept the War Staff's recommendations, holding to more conventional military strategies. When King Florián II ascended to the throne in 1929, he was receptive and the air force was chartered on October 14, 1929.

The air force was heavily engaged in the Second World War. With rather low numbers of its own aircraft, some Ventoran pilots flew aircraft provided by other Alliance countries.

During the War of the Three Capitals, about half the air force remained grounded. Of the remainder, individual pilots took their aircraft and flew for one of the three sides based largely on their personal loyalties. Ground crews tended to stay with specific pilots or aircraft which sometimes resulted in less than optimal performance due to conflicts in allegiance. Following the war, the air force was largely ineffectual as the service worked to reintegrate and rebuild. Most of the aircraft left on the ground were no longer serviceable and many of the remaining aircraft, after losses, were questionable.

By the early 1970s the force was cohesive again with modern aircraft continually added to the fleet through the 1980s. As technology has advanced, the air force has continued to upgrade and modernize aircraft as needed to maintain its ability to successfully fulfill its missions.

Organization
In coordination with the Defense Staff, the Aerial High Command plans, coordinates, and directs aerial operations. Operationally, units are allocated to a specific command based on mission.


 * Air Superiority Command &mdash;responsible for establishing and maintaining in a designated operational area primarily through fighter aircraft
 * Bomber Command &mdash;supports ground and naval operations through the delivery of aerial ordinance
 * Tactical Air Command &mdash;provides tactical to surface units
 * Air Defense Command &mdash;consists of air defense artillery and missile units in addition to aerial command and control aircraft; operates air defense radars and directs interceptor aircraft in defense of the homeland
 * Aerial Training Command &mdash;responsible for specialized aerial combat training, including and

The air force is idiosyncratic among Ventora's services in having its own training organization. This is because of the importance in linking aviator training with aerial warfare doctrine and the fact aerial combat is unique.

Equipment
Aircraft selection focuses on airframes optimized for the particular mission set they are intended to fulfill. Several aircraft have variants with equipment sets intended to provide additional roles without substantially expanding aircraft types. For example, in 2004, the air force added the A-29 ground attack turboprop ground attack aircraft specifically to provide capability. The unarmed T-29 variant serves as the basic fixed-wing trainer aircraft.

Aircraft serialization
Military aircraft carry the registration prefix VM- and a three alphanumeric identifier. The first character indicates the role of the aircraft, with the final two characters allocated to a specific aircraft. The alphanumeric characters consist of numbers 0 to 9 and letters A through Z except I and O.

Personnel
Active duty air force personnel total 23,100 of which about half are conscripts and the balance careerists, making the air force the smallest of Ventora's armed forces. The air force has a higher number of careerists due to pilot training requirements that specify pilots must agree to a minimum 4 year active duty and a 4 year reserve obligation, exceeding the typical 18 month active duty with 4 years, 6 months ready reserve following. This is due to the time involved in pilot training. As a result most conscripts fulfill support duties.

Nonetheless, the air force has 97,453 ready reserve personnel who serve three week duty periods annually (four weeks for leaders and pilots). These personnel include pilots, flight crew, and other aviation specialists. The inactive reserve numbers 438,322 personnel who could be recalled in the event of an emergency but who do not attend annual training and would, therefore, need refresher training to fulfill their duties.

Training
As with all conscripts, new air force personnel attend 8 weeks of basic military training. Upon completion, they attend 2 weeks of air force familiarization training, and then any functional training pertaining to their duty assignment. Course lengths for functional training vary depending on the complexities involved. After functional training, personnel complete eight weeks of collective training in their functional assignment.

Air force non-commissioned officers (NCOs) attend basic military training and then the 4-week basic leadership course. Officer aspirants attend basic military training and the basic leadership course followed by 12 weeks at officer training school. A select number of Ventoran Military Academy graduates enter the air force officer corps and attend the air force familiarization course. All air force officers also complete basic, advanced, and senior officer schools as they advance during their careers.

While NCO and officer assignments often involve additional service obligations beyond the basic national service requirement, pilot training and assignments is unique. Candidates must meet physical and intellectual standards for selection and must have already completed a year of their military service to apply.

Upon acceptance, flight candidates must agree to a four year active duty and four year ready reserve obligation, which includes active duty time already accrued. This is substantially higher than the 18-month active service followed by 54 months ready reserve status. Pilot training involves officer training school, at 90 days, and basic flight school for another 90 days. Rotary wing or jet schools involve an additional 90 days of training, which is the rationale for the additional service obligation.

After basic flight schools, the air force conducts specialized operational flight training for its pilots and flight crews. Aerial Training Command has programs of instruction for ground support, ground attack, air superiority, counter-insurgency, reconnaissance, and aerial electronic warfare. The air force is unique among the combat branches in having its own training group. The Ventoran Logistics Corps conducts all other training.

Beyond basic and specialized flight training, flight crews must meet a minimum of flying hours annually. These are 192 hours for active duty personnel and 104 hours for ready reservists. In addition, flight crew ready reservists attend 4-week annual duty periods rather than the standard 3-week period.

Uniforms
The standard field uniform is the typical day-to-day uniform for all services of the Ventoran armed forces. It consists of a top, trousers, and cap in a woodland digital camouflage pattern which works well throughout southwestern Alutra. The design is the same for all ranks and for males and females.

For dress occasions, the air force dress uniform consists of blue-grey trousers, tunic, and peaked cap. Ribbons representing medals awarded to the wearer are worn on the left breast of the tunic. The trousers may be worn with a light blue shirt, with or without a tie, and no tunic as a duty uniform when designated by the commander. For more formal occasions, the dress uniform is worn with a belt, white shirt, and medals awarded the wearer. For officers, the cap strap and belt are gold brocade. The overall style is the same for both males and females, but the cut is slightly different to present a more appropriate professional appearance.

Blue-grey rank epaulettes on both shoulders designate the wearer's rank on all air force uniforms. A nametape in material matching the uniform displays the wearer's last name on the left breast of the utility and field uniforms. A patch representing the flag of Ventora is displayed on the left shoulder of the field.

Pilot badge
Upon completion of Basic Flight School, graduate pilots may wear the Ventoran military pilot badge on the right breast of the uniform. The badge is a gray cloth patch for the duty uniform and a silver metal pin-on badge for the dress uniform. It consists of a shield with the Ventoran coat of arms emblem surmounting outstretched wings.