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Her at Balad Aug-Nov 2007

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Newbie Joined: Sep 20, 2007 Posts: 6 Status: Offline

I agree that Lethal lady needs to be preserved, but not at the National Museum of the Air Force as they would rather have a F-16 Mig killer. Just keep the jet where it was last based for all to enjoy.

There are only 5 F-16 Mig killers in the USAF. F-16C 86-262 Killed a Iraq Mig-23, F-16D killed an Iraq Mig-25 with the first shot of the AIM-120 missile in December 1992, F-16C 89-2137 shot down three Serbian Galebs while its wingman in F-16 89-009 one Serbian Galeb in February 1994 and F-16C 91-353 a Serb Mib-29 April 1999.

Since the USAF is planning to retire large numbers of F-16C's to the boneyard and since they seem too determined to keep all of them in the boneyard for future conversion into GF-16C/D drone aircraft, allowances should be made for keeping Lethal Lady and at least some of the 5 F-16's who were Mig killers for display purposes.

If I had to choose which F-16C Mig killer would go where, I would have the National Museum of the Air Force take first dibs on F-16C 86-262 (Mig-23), the Udvar Hazy Museum F-16D 90-778 (Mig-25) to repose next to a F-4J and a F-14 who are single Mig killers in their right (Eventually a F-15C Mig killer will join them), F-16C 89-2137 (triple Serb Galeb killer) would join a triple Mig killing F-4C (64-776) at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

Note that I have taken 2 F-16C's and 1 F-16D for museum display purposes while leaving F-16C 91-353 and F-16C 89-009 in service. The loss of only 3 F-16 Mig killers for museum purposes should not impact the USAF one iota as they average a loss of around 10 F-16's a year due to peacetime attrition.

However, all bets are off if a war suddenly pops up in Iran and the Korean Penisula where Eagles, Vipers and Raptors will score more kills. Since that possibility seems remote as of now, I feel it is safe to consider the retirement of those above mentioned F-16C/D's to honor their achievements in the battlefield.

Hey I've worked on two of those Mig killers, 2137 and 2009. And I'll at least see 0778 at Luke. Makes me feel special Mr. Green

F-16.net Editor Joined: Aug 23, 2003 Posts: 1675

Ender_Wiggin wrote:

Her at Balad Aug-Nov 2007

Hello Ender_Wiggin. Is this your photo? If so can be use it in the gallery and to update the database.

Elite Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 1543 Status: Offline

Hello all,

See this!!

http://www.wcax.com/global/video/popup/ ... d=98874246

Greetings,

Henrik.

Veteran Joined: Jan 20, 2008 Posts: 276 Status: Offline

Say NO to the Boneyard...

Say YES to a Museum!!!

F-16.net Editor Joined: Aug 23, 2003 Posts: 1675

AirForceTimes wrote:

Vt. Guard to keep 'Lethal Lady'

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 23, 2008 7:31:35 EDT

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont Air National Guard’s oldest fighter plane is being saved from the scrap yard.

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy has been told by the Air Force that the F-16 fighter known as the “Lethal Lady” can be converted into a museum piece and it will stay in Vermont.

Earlier this year, the plane flew into the record books by clocking more than 7,000 hours in the air. It was the first plane of its type to last that long.

Plans had been to send the Lethal Lady to a base in Arizona where it would be scrapped.

Vermont Guard officials now say the plane will be put on display, either outside guard headquarters in Colchester or outside the Air Guard Base in South Burlington.

Source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/ ... dy_052208/

F-16.net Editor Joined: Aug 23, 2003 Posts: 1675

The Burlington Free Press wrote:

Vt. Air National Guard will keep “Lethal Lady"
The Associated Press • May 23, 2008

SOUTH BURLINGTON — The nation’s longest flying F-16 fighter plane, known as the Lethal Lady, is being saved from the scrap yard.

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, has been told by the Air Force that the F-16 fighter that has been flown by the Vermont Air National Guard since 1994 can be converted into a museum piece and it will stay in Vermont.

Earlier this year the plane flew into the record books by clocking more than 7,000 hours in the air. It was the first plane of its type to last that long.

Plans had been to send the Lethal Lady to a base in Arizona where it would be scrapped.

But Leahy and others asked the Air Force for permission to save it as a testament to the ground crews that maintained the plane, which rolled off a Texas assembly line in 1983, and the pilots who flew it.

"The Lethal Lady is an emblem of the skill and spirit of the Vermont Air National Guard, and I’m glad we’ll be able to keep her close to home," Leahy said Thursday. "She has been flown and kept in superb shape by some of the most skilled and professional pilots and maintainers anywhere in the world, and this decision is certainly a well-deserved feather in their caps."

The plane, serial number 83-1165, flew 42 missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 while in the inventory of the active duty Air Force.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the plane patrolled the skies over the East Coast, before the current war in Iraq it helped keep Saddam Hussein’s air force on the ground and it has been on multiple combat tours in Iraq, most recently last year.

Vermont Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Lloyd Goodrow said the plane would be displayed either outside the entrance to the Air Guard Base in South Burlington or at the entrance to National Guard headquarters at Camp Johnson in Colchester.

It's unclear when the Lethal Lady will make its last flight.

Source: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps ... S/80523007

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