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File: aabfs_04.txt800 feet. We built two A-10 ramps, which were 1000 by 200 feet each, and then a MAC ramp, which is capable of holding 10 C-5s. It is about 2500 by 600 feet. Another ramp that we parked the F-16s on, which was a Saudi ramp--the Saudis call it ramp No.2; we call it the Viper ramp--was under construction at the time, and the French Air Force used it prior to us. At the commencement of hostilities, we kind of adopted it and then used it. I used a very methodical approach in parking our aircraft and designating areas assigned for the various units. I think because of that we have been very successful in establishing flows and ICT [Integrated Combat Turns] areas and fueling pits. We have six fueling pits here. We store over 1 1/4 million gallons of JP-4 on the airfield. These were all installed on or about January 7th, so we have made some improvements here. We did bring it to a full-up combat potential. We did install some approach lights the day after the F-4 crashed. We did not have a communications system to tell- or perhaps we didn't understand the communications system well enough to know--that the TACC [Tactical Air Control Center] in Riyadh was not getting the right weather information, and therefore sending, via AWACS, fighters into our airfield when our airfield was literally closed because it was WOXOF [Zero Visibility-Zero Ceiling]. I am sure that we did not understand the weather here when we came. We did not anticipate how bad the weather could be in terms of vis [visibility]; how fast the vis could close down. In a matter of 5 minutes, it would go from a mile vis to 600 feet. We didn't understand that could happen here. 4
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