MANG pilots take last flights in their beloved F-16s

By RYAN HALL
Tribune Staff Writer

Originally published April 19, 2008

When Cols. Michael McDonald and Dave Allen climbed into the cockpit of two F-16C jet fighters for the last time Friday, they represented 20 percent of the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard's military flying experience.

McDonald, 52, and Allen have logged a combined 7,900 hours in the F-16 over 50 combined years of service as pilots. McDonald alone has flown more than 4,300 hours in the F-16 and holds the Air Force's unofficial record for most flight time in the F-16 A/B aircraft.

"It's a long time sitting in a little thing," McDonald said.

However, with the 120th scheduled to switch to the F-15 fighter later this year, the pair won't log anymore seat time in the one plane they have known as airmen. After a final 90-minute farewell flight over Big Sky Country, the pilots climbed down from the cockpit and were greeted by their wives. The usual fanfare was passed up because the pilots wanted to be respectful to the nearly 200 MANG airmen deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, said Maj. Rick Anderson, public affairs chief for the wing.

That didn't make the moment any less emotional for McDonald.

"I grew up with (the F-16), and it grew up with me," he said after climbing down the ladder from the cockpit one last time. "I'll definitely miss this ... it was emotional, there was a lump in my throat."

McDonald praised the maneuverability of the F-16, adding the new planes won't be quite as agile. He acknowledged that the F-15 represents a new mission and a brighter future for the wing, but said he didn't expect the same rush he felt from being in the cockpit of the Fighting Falcon.

"As far as just the sheer force of flying ..." he said, his voice trailing off as he smiled and gestured wildly with both hands toward the F-16 in the hangar. "That'd be it."

Though the 120th Fighter Wing won't get its F-15s until later this year, McDonald and Allen decided to take their last flight in the F-16 early, when they could do it together. Allen is a Delta Airlines pilot based out of Denver, so his Montana flight time is limited.

McDonald said the two pilots, who will each take a training course and transfer to the F-15, have been flying together for years and have become great friends with a similar outlook on life.

"That was really special," McDonald said of having Allen on his wing for his last flight in the F-16. "It was really just cool to do this finish with him."

"It was real fun," Allen said.

The weather cooperated for the pilots' last flight, which added to the moment, McDonald said.

Friday's flight took the pair from Monida to Wisdom, then over Red Lodge and back to Great Falls, where they each made two passes over the runway, followed by a vertical climb and a 180-degree turn before finally landing and taxiing to the hangars.

McDonald said he was glad that his last flight was over Montana, which he said has the best scenery of any place he has ever flown over, singling out the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area near Red Lodge as his favorite spot.

"It was beautiful," he said. "It was kind of like flying into a fairy tale."

Source: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/p ... /804190304

Malmstrom readies for new jets

Posted: April 19, 2008 12:48 AM
Updated: April 19, 2008 12:48 AM

As the Montana Air National Guard readies itself for the transition to the F-15 Eagle fighter jet. The 120th fighter wing commander took to the skies for his final flight in an F-16.

Colonel Michael McDonald has spent his entire career in the cockpit of the aircraft, accumulating more than 4,000 hours of flight time. The commander is only the 5th pilot in the world to pass that threshold, and now with the F-16 set to be replaced, and this was the last time the colonel will get to push the envelope.

120th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Michael J. McDonald: "It's been a central part of my life for so long you know my entire professional career and everything has been developed around it and to finally see that portion go away it was hard I mean it really was."

The Colonel says, he is looking forward to the F-15's, but if he to choose between the aircraft he would take an F-16 hands down.

The Commander also "unofficially" holds the U.S. record for most flying hours in the F-16, both A and B models.

Source: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/glob ... ?s=8195343