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Newbie Joined: Jun 21, 2008 Posts: 12 Status: Offline

Hello everyone, this is my first post here although i have been visiting the site for many years now. Can anyone confirm that the only F-16 Block 52 Unit the US is operating is the 157th FS "Swamp Fox" (ANG to be precise). Thank you for any help you might provide.

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Enthusiast Joined: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 22 Status: Offline

I believe the test squadrons at Nellis and Eglin have some block 52s and I think there is a squadron at Luke that has them, I believe for training foreign pilots(not sure which country).

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1090 Status: Offline

There were only 53 block 52s made for the USAF, and only 41 CJs. The 157th is the only combat tasked unit to fly the 52 since the 366th gave up its vipers last year. The 16th Weapons squadron flies them at Nellis and there are a few in the 422nd TES. Eglin is a GE base, and I don't think the 52s at Luke count as USAF 52s since they belong to Taiwan and Singapore. The T-birds are moving to them next season. Any at Edwards?

Newbie Joined: Jun 21, 2008 Posts: 12 Status: Offline

Thanks for the information, greatly appreciated.

AfterburnerDecalsScott wrote:

Eglin is a GE base

Eglin is a mixed-bag. Although the 85TES only flies GE 40s & 50s, the 46TW has Block 25, 32, 40, 42, and 50. Up until recently they also flew some ex-Pakistani F-16A/Bs. I can't recall seeing a Block 52 there, however.

Jake

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1090 Status: Offline

Crap....forgot 'bout 'dem. Sad

The 21st at Luke is a Blk 20 group. That's the Taiwan folks with US national markings.

squirrel wrote:

I believe the test squadrons at Nellis and Eglin have some block 52s and I think there is a squadron at Luke that has them, I believe for training foreign pilots(not sure which country).

Does Luke still have the Singapore (RSAF) Unit with Block 52s?

Also, there were some ANG units that upgraded their engines in the Block 42s to the PW-229. Des Moines, Tulsa, & Toledo; although now DesMoines have Block 30s with GE-100s I believe?

http://www.f-16.net/news_article956.html

So yes, the ANG has the only "combat coded" PW-229 Vipers. (Block 42 or 52)

That whole 50/50 - GE/PW engine buy "split" weighted the PW engines to the F-15E program. Makes the F-16C/D buy about 3-GE Block 50s to every 1-PW Block 52.

Keep 'em flyin' Thumb

TEG

Newbie Joined: Jun 19, 2007 Posts: 11 Status: Offline

why would the T-Birds (a demonstration team) fly the most sophisticated birds when the front line birds are less capable? Shouldn't it be the reverse? just sayin

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1090 Status: Offline

They are pretty much surplus. The USAF likes GE jets for its combat units....again, they only built 41 CJs with Pratts, and no regular Air Force combat assigned units fly them, so they are flown by just the 1 guard unit and various test and training units. The T-birds is a really good place for them actually....when they crashed their last jet a block 32, it was replaced by a jet from a combat guard unit, reducing their strength. No combat 52 units are losing jets to the birds.

Newbie Joined: Oct 11, 2004 Posts: 15 Status: Offline

The 425 FS "Black Widows" from Luke has them. But I think those belongs to the RSAF for their pilot training.

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 93 Status: Offline

Beowulf, you meant 421st FS, right...

The 421st is at Hill not Luke and they fly block 40's.

Elite 1K Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 1198 Status: Offline

Rutgers wrote:

why would the T-Birds (a demonstration team) fly the most sophisticated birds when the front line birds are less capable? Shouldn't it be the reverse? just sayin

If the Block 52's are more capable that is news to me. The only diff in the two is the engine, and I love the GE.

Purple

The PW-229 makes a few more pounds of thrust than the GE-129, but weighs in a couple hundred less.

Besides that long blue augmentor plume of the PW-229 will look great and the sound is great.

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Block 52 Units