The delegation arrived at the Melitopol air base July 16 to a crowd of more than 150 cheering onlookers waving both Ukrainian and U.S. flags. During a dinner honoring their American guests, General Victor Radchenko, division commander, stressed the importance of friendship and understanding. It was also a giant step towards bridging the gap separating the two former adversaries. Van Ness echoed these words. When military personnel from different countries get together they find they have a lot in common.
Maintainers find they have a similar bond as well, since they work on the aircraft.
The second day of the visit, the air base at Melitopol held a special air show for their American guests and opened the base to people from the surrounding community. This was the first time that the Ukrainian base had held such an event. After the last aircraft flyover concluded, the U.S. Air Force delegation opened up the KC-135R for tours. The crowd, numbering close to 10,000, quickly descended upon the unique static display, eager for an opportunity to see the aircraft and meet its American aircrew. Other highlights of the trip included a tour of Zaporozha, a major city with a population of more than 1 million, an area history museum, a hydroelectric plant built in the 1940s with the help of the American government, and the Ukrainian countryside.