Forum: General

Is there a reason the ANG undertakes the instruction of the foreign pilots? I'm wondering why these foreign pilots don't train along side USAF student pilots in the Air Education and Training Command.

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Anonymous wrote:

Ten RNLAF F-16s were based in Tucson, Arizona beginning in 1989, where the 148th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the Arizona ANG used them for the training of new Dutch pilots. However, this activity was ceased in 1994, and the 148th TFTS was itself scheduled for deactivation sometime during 1995.

As a member of the 162nd I can tell you The 148th FS Kickin a$$ are still there and the UAE will be the second foreign country to train in Tucson with their brand new Block 60's.

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortunately they took down all of the flags after the 9/11 attacks.

The flags are back up

Anonymous wrote:

Is there a reason the ANG undertakes the instruction of the foreign pilots? I'm wondering why these foreign pilots don't train along side USAF student pilots in the Air Education and Training Command.

The 162nd is an ANG AETC base.

chuckie wrote:

Hi, there

Japan Air Force sent 8 pilots to 162FW, 195FS, in 1998-2000.
They ran F2 (Japanese F-16mod) ops eval testing in Misawa, Japan.

I'm the one of them, I met instructers from Netherlands, Norway.
I saw students from Netherlands, Singapole, Taiwan and US ANGs.

You can see the national flags of students' country currently flaying at 162FW from the gate, if you can drive off.

I miss blue sky, cactus, and taco.

Chuckie Aizawa

Cool, Chuckie. Keep us posted on anything interesting. Sounds like some fun flying in your new ride. Post some pics of F2 stuff if you get a chance. Happy landings. I was at Misawa for a few years. Fun time.

As Elp wrote, it is really cool to have you here! If you have something interesting, do not hesitate, I'm sure we're many who would like to get it.

By the way, one of the thing that makes this forum so good and interesting is the number of pilots, mechanics and crews who post to it. Thanks to all of them! Very Happy

sweetpete wrote:

The flags are back up

Could you let me know when the polish flag will up in 162nd?

Maybe you can tell me which FW will train polish pilots, and which block will be use for training?(52+)

Thanks

I'm pretty sure the pilots will train in the same Block aircraft as they will be using in Poland.

Anonymous wrote:

As far as I know the Dutch pilots still operate from Tucson;
but maybe with US aircraft? can you confirm please?

Ten RNLAF F-16s were based in Tucson, Arizona beginning in 1989, where the 148th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the Arizona ANG used them for the training of new Dutch pilots. However, this activity was ceased in 1994, and the 148th TFTS was itself scheduled for deactivation sometime during 1995.

The only training sqn the Dutch have is 313 Squadron at Twenthe Air Base, The Netherlands

If I may beg to differ, I was a contractor with Raytheon at Tucson in the sim shop from '97 to '99 and can say for a fact we had Dutch students at Tucson during that period. I used to drink with 'em! They came to Tucson after finishing up at Shepherd. As far as aircraft, early on the Dutch Boys did have some Dutch birds at TUS painted in AZANG colors with the added Dutch rondel on the intake. As of '97 I'm not sure that was still the case. Some of the Dutch guys were tracked in the C-model courses as an early MLU lead-in. After leaving Tucson they'd THEN go to Twenthe for initial combat quals and mission ratings.

The 162nd Fighter Wing still trains International Pilots. The 148th Fighter Squardron still exists. It was never disbanded. The planes the the Netherlands had were returned in 1994. It that time the USAF iron took over.

The 162nd Fighter Wing trains up to 16 different countries to fly the F-16. THe number of countries on base at any time changes from month to month.
The 162nd still flies one Block 10, many block 15's including the ADF models for the Italian AIr Forces, they also have the Block 25 and the Block 42.

The 148th Fighter Squadron will be flying the Block 60 F-16 E/F model starting late 2004.

Quite a while back I remember watching some Italian pilots talking about life in the US on the news, and also I remember hearing or reading about an F-16 crash landing or something like that with an Italian student. Also, I've never seen any foreign flags at that base the times that I have driven by there, although I haven't in a really long time because it's pretty far from where I live.

Gents ,

I can assure you that the RNLAF didn't stop the activities in TUCSON in '94.
Belgian Air Force started to send pilots there in '96 and stop with this program in 2001.

I'm home sick too when I think about UofA football games and all the nice people met there.

Semper Viper

Yeah the team sucks a$$ but the games are fun, lol.

Most pilots from Bahrain actually trained at McDill when it was a real fighter base. It has been mentioned in previous threads that UAE pilots are currently training in Tucson as we speak.
I'll also say this, I've fired up the avionics system on the Block 60 and they will NEVER undertand it all, it is AMAZING to say the least, USAF pilots would have a tough time navigating it. But it's damn sure fun to play with, ya better have a lot of cooling air available though.

Happy

From what we've heard, today two block 60s arrived at Tucson to start training.

-> <a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_news_article1184.html">First operational F-16 Block 60s arrived in Tucson today</a>

Forum: General

F-16 training in Tucson, AZ