U.S. military aircraft and personnel from Japan, Okinawa and Hawaii are part of the American exposition this week at the 2007 Australian International Airshow, according to a 13th Air Force news release issued Thursday.

The six-day event, at Avalon Airport in southern Australia, is the country’s largest air show. Gen. Paul V. Hester, the Pacific Air Forces commander, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to open the U.S. exhibit.

Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will appear before an audience of Australian and Pacific region defense leaders, government officials and the public, the release stated.

The show features displays showcasing Air Force history and capabilities.

Aircraft from several Pacific Command bases also have been rolled out. They include F-16s from Misawa Air Base, Japan; F-15s and an E-3 from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa; a C-17 from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and F/A-18s from Carrier Air Wing 5 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.

Guam water plant to close for upgradesThe Navy has scheduled an 18-hour shutdown of its water treatment plant for system upgrades, starting at 7 a.m. Saturday. The villages of Agat and Santa Rita will be affected.

The Navy will require its housing residents and other users to adhere to strict water conservation measures.

Navy to hold hearing on wharf upgrade impactThe Navy will hold a public hearing Wednesday on a draft environmental impact statement regarding the proposed extension and upgrades to Kilo Wharf in Apra Harbor to accommodate a new class of Navy Combat Logistics Force ships.

The hearing, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon Bay, also will consider alternatives, the Navy said in a news release.

The wharf proposal is to accommodate new T-AKE class dry-cargo and ammunition ships, which will replace existing T-AE class ammunition ships now forward-deployed to the Apra Harbor Naval Complex.

Kilo Wharf, built in 1989, is the Defense Department’s only ammunition wharf in the region, according to the release.

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