October 21. The third of the three C-27J "Spartan" aircrafts purchased by the Lithuanian Air Force was introduced, named and christened in a ceremony at the of LAF Šiauliai Air Base.
At the ceremony attended Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė, Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Brig. Gen. Artūras Leita and representatives of the Italian Company "Alenia Aeronautika S.p.a".
A name was bestowed on the last of the three aircrafts just like on its predecessors, "Gediminas" and "Algirdas". The new aircraft is named "Vytautas", the Grand Duke of Lithuania, to celebrate the names of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania as well as to commemorate the Millennium of the Name of Lithuania. The new C-27J „Spartan" was blessed by the Chaplain of the Lithuanian Air Force Maj. Virginijus Veilentas. Photos of the ceremony: |