Forum: F-16 News

82-0926 was grounded in Nov. 2005 due to a fuel shelf crack. This is what the engineers determined without ever seeing the jet.

F-16.net Sponsor

I remember seeing 926 a bunch, I have pics of that jet in the photo data base here. You guys had those jets on 50 x-rays for cracks did'nt you?

Yah, they were on 50 hr inspections! It was the engineers educated guess that they were cracked. The bean counters just want the "A" models out of the system. Too bad. I guess they are tired of getting their buts kicked by a bunch of guard bums.

Its a sad time there in Fargo watching those fighters leave. You folks have been in fighters forever. I personally will never forget my time in Grand Forks and hearing Heat, Waldo, Shark, Drifter, Jams, Poacher, Snake, Copper, Rhino, Pyro, and Vapor flights mixing it up in Tiger east and West MOA's. Here's some pics I have taken and some that friends have sent me over the years.

MechFromHell wrote:

We have about 6 or 7 of them down here at Sheppard. I use them nearly every day to train newbies. Evil or Very Mad

Hey Mech

I just left Sheppard. I was an MTL at 362. I got pictures of all the ADF's that were sitting there in Aug 2005. Here is one. One of my troops about 2 years ago brought me a Happy Hooligans coin back from Christmas Exodus. Always loved that unit.

Cheers
Dave Slavens
Former MTL 362nd TRS ,Sept 2001 to Jan 2006.

Destro wrote:

Its a sad time there in Fargo watching those fighters leave. You folks have been in fighters forever.

I agree, what a great unit and great people. I'll never forget the last of the Hooligan's Phantoms as well. One aircraft, just out of paint, was up at the London International Airshow when it was 'called home' to AMARC. I had the distinct privilege of helping the flightcrew stuff twenty-six rolls of toilet paper into each speed brake. An amazing amount of confetti when whey're 'popped' at just under mach.

Mike

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Boman wrote:

According to the database 81-0666 is stored at AMARC (possibly sold to Jordan?)

I believe those who has become instructional airframes are marked as GF-16's

Eh, I was there in 04, I hardly remember which tail it was, I remember it was a non ADF A model with the big stabs. They said it was an ex-t bird and some of the cockpit pieces were still polished.

Edit: it was 81-0676

Quote:

I agree, what a great unit and great people

You said it, that is a great unit, with outstanding people. I personally know a half dozen or so of them, and they are true professionals. That unit is a first class orginization, and doing it in a climate like North Dakota in the winter is no small feat. It's not the easiest thing to be a crew dog or pilot up there in the winter and they make the best of it. Some of the cagey ole vets around here like Gums and the others that have been up in NoDak will attest to that.

Oh yeah, add to that all the Willy Tells that they have won plus the 70,000 accident free flight hours... that's a damn fine unit.

Destro wrote:

Oh yeah, add to that all the Willy Tells that they have won plus the 70,000 accident free flight hours... that's a damn fine unit.

It sure is great that they are being rewarded for all of their hard work and accomplishments. Mad

Jake

Jake,

I'm glad somebody understands the pain we are going through! It's a tough pill to swallow for us maintainers watching our babies go away and die in the desert. For all we've done our record doesn't meen a thing, you would think our elected officials would try to do something for us. The bad part is in our follow on mission the maint. package is very minimal which results in people losing their job. The BRAC report said the retirement of our jets would have no economic impact on the community. Right!!!!! Hopefully this shakes people up. Thanks for caring.

ADF

My old buddie Major Dave Hill siad he would never be the same once he left the Holligans, he now flies for FedEx...he was (is) a hell'va pilot...I too will miss that very cool squadron.

I too shared many show sites with these folks and they were always a crowd pleaser...party animals too

MechFromHell,

Can you post a list of the ex-Hooligans that are now at Sheppard please?

Regards and thanks

Mark

Meathook wrote:

I too shared many show sites with these folks and they were always a crowd pleaser...party animals too

Good call Meathook, when the Hooligan's Phantom pulled in to London for the airshow, the pilot deplaned wearing his old orange ADC flightsuit (they were 'grandfathered in' for the ex interceptor guys) black Ray-bans and a pair of neon green Chuck Taylor hi-tops - as I recall his nametape read "Teen Idol". Need to find those photos somewhere.

Mike

Destro wrote:

Its a sad time there in Fargo watching those fighters leave. You folks have been in fighters forever. I personally will never forget my time in Grand Forks and hearing Heat, Waldo, Shark, Drifter, Jams, Poacher, Snake, Copper, Rhino, Pyro, and Vapor flights mixing it up in Tiger east and West MOA's. Here's some pics I have taken and some that friends have sent me over the years.

Great photos !!

KX Net.com wrote:

New Guard Mission
Jun 3 2008 11:00PM
KXMCTV Minot

After 60 years of having the same mission North Dakota National Guard Airmen are still adjusting to their new role.

Donnell Preskey met up with one pilot as his mission brought him to Bismarck...

Lieutenant Colonel Craig Schroeder has been in the pilot seat for more than two decades.

But most of his time 17 years was spent strapped into an F-16...

(Lt. Col. Craig Schroeder) "I do miss it but, I flew fighters for 25 years - that's a long career in fighters - most guys are lucky to get 10 years. So I feel fortunate to get as long as I did."

North Dakota F-16s made their last fly over the state capitol in January 2007.

It signified the end of the Happy Hooligan's 60 year long fighter jet mission. Since then they've gone from this to this...

"It would be like trading your ferrari for a mini van." The North Dakota Air Guard has two new missions flying the predator an unmanned aircraft and this C-21.

(Schroeder) "used for executive transport which means we fly around the country and give VIP's rides to where they need to go."

His missions aren't as classified now as they were behind the controls of the f-16.

"we go to andrews Air Force base a lot which is right outside Washington, DC. we're there with a lot of high profile military people, we give them rides all around the country to meetings, gatherings whatever they need to do."

The C-21 goes about as fast as a commercial airliner, and while it's a nice way to travel Schroeder says it just doesn't have the power of an F-16 nor the prestige... "we used to have people calling us all the time for fly overs and since we got this no one really wants to see that." In Bismarck, Donnell Preskey KX News.

The 119th Wing is based in Fargo.The pilots who just couldn't give up flying F-16s transferred.

Pilots will fly the C-21s until 2011, and at that time, the unit is expected to get cargo aircraft.

Source: http://www.kxmb.com/News/Local/244772.asp

Video

Forum: F-16 News

Hooligans F-16s Mothballed