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Newbie Joined: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 2 Status: Offline

The Virginia Air National Guard will be flying their last tactical sorties in the F-16 next weekend (9-10 Jun). The VaANG has been flying Vipers since 1991 when they became the first ANG unit to receive the F-16C/D. The few remaining jets will be transferred to other Guard units in the near future.

The VaANG is in the middle of moving it's operation from Sandston, VA (KRIC) to Langley AFB where it is transitioning into F-22A operations and ACC operational intel as part of the Total Force Integration initiative. Currently, a majority of the VaANG pilots are in training or have completed the Raptor TX-course.

A sad farewell to our friends and neighbors in Sandston...a phenomenal mission, and a great jet.

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Elite Joined: Apr 08, 2004 Posts: 730 Status: Offline

That's sad to hear, as there is a lot more history with the VAANG's 'Rebel Riders' than the Vipers. I can remember being a little kid out on the ramp with my Dad as the F-105's started and taxied for launch - the size and sheer presence of the Thud's was incredible, expecially for a ten year old kid standing in the shade under a wingtip...

Mike

Elite Joined: Apr 11, 2004 Posts: 2888 Status: Offline

Sad to see a long tradition end. Does this mean that they'll be flying Raptors along with fixing 'em?

Flying and fixing yes, but will own no aircraft.

F-16.net Editor Joined: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 2827

Sad. Kinda hate to see Guard units that aren't really of any use in a Guard task. F-16s ( home air defense ) and any kind of airlift which is good in any home based effort, are both good to see for the Guard. Hate seeing the Guard used to be doing things where they don't have their own aircraft or the mission has almost no use to home duty stuff. Example- JSTARS for the Georgia Guard. Something like that which is almost always expeditionary and the above thing with F-22 support where there is no ownership of the aircraft is IMHO better use for the Air Force Reserve.

Elite Joined: Apr 20, 2005 Posts: 1028 Status: Offline

Guard units are deployed with AEF's and have been designed that way for a long time. Reserve units are supposed to be home station back-fill. While at home, just because they don't own the aircraft, that doesn't mean they cannot generatet their own sorties.

Elite Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 1166 Status: Offline

Yeah but what's a DCC without an aircraft?

A lot of these guys will go to the 121st FS just down the road (still pretty far, but...) and some may get there old aircraft even.

Quote:

Yeah but what's a DCC without an aircraft?

That's the saddest question i've ever heard

Elite Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 1166 Status: Offline

Sorry Tim, I didn't mean to make you sad........But you are correct! Sad

As a longtime observer of the forum and a VaANG retiree, I had to comment on this one. It is truly a sad day in Sandston (Richmond, too) with the departure of our last Vipers. The feeling among the old folks there is that the 192d's leadership sold the unit down the river. It seems that a few of the higher-ups in the Ops building lived in the Langley AFB area back when this idea had its genesis.
The transition from F-16 to F-22 wouldn't be so bad if the USAF had agreed to put a detachment of Raptors in Sandston, but I guess politics prevented that move. The Raptor has two tails--why not put "FF" on one tail and "VA" on the other one? At this time, the 1st FW won't even paint a 192FW patch on the side of the jets alongside their own patch.
I find myself torn between sadness that the unit as I knew is is going away and envy that I don't get to play with the new toy. The last thing I did as a member of the military was fly a portable (unclassified programs, to be sure) F-22 simulator, and it was pretty awesome. However, for those who care about such things, it seems the F-16 is a more nimble airplane to fly.
I still have yet to lay eyes on a Raptor in the flesh; guess I'll have to go to Langley and see if I can wangle my way into a "nickel tour" of the jet.
Y'all keep up the lively forum posts--I enjoy the hell out of them. Reminds me of the good ole days.

SixerViper

Elite Joined: Apr 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

From Langley´s public website:

Quote:

The Virginia Air National Guard is “Flying Into the Future” With Its transition to Langley

192nd Fighter Wing

6/14/2007 - RICHMOND, Va. -- The 192nd Fighter Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard will celebrate a major milestone June 20 as it flies into the future - on the wings of the nation's most advanced fighter jet - the F-22A Raptor.

As the first Air National Guard unit in the country to start flying the F-22A, the U.S. Air Force's newest stealth fighter aircraft, the wing is forging ahead to meet the nation's and the Commonwealth's evolving needs, resulting in the bold and exciting move to begin conducting associated operations with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va. With more than 20 192d Fighter Wing pilots now trained to fly the F-22 and a growing number of the Wing's fulltime and traditional status Guardsmen working at Langley, the wing will be changing the face of the Virginia Air National Guard.

The 192nd will celebrate its future in the F-22 and honor its proud heritage by conducting a special aerial event to mark the wing's last training mission June 20 with four F-16 Fighting Falcons. Distinguished guests, and Commonwealth and National Guard leadership will join the 192d Fighter Wing to mark this historical event. Representatives from Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics will be on hand.

The 192nd has flown the F-16 since 1991. "After 16 years of flying the F-16, which included training missions, combat in Iraq, and combat air patrols over Washington, D.C, we have three new, exciting opportunities at Langley. The 192nd will associate with the active duty's 1st Fighter Wing F-22A Raptor mission, the 480 Intel Wing's Distributed Ground Station Imagery Analysis mission and the Combat Air Force Logistic Support Center," said Col. Jay Pearsall, 192nd Fighter Wing commander.

SixerViper wrote:

At this time, the 1st FW won't even paint a 192FW patch on the side of the jets alongside their own patch.

Sixer-

I keep hearing conflicting stories on this one. The old man (NYANG retiree and former viper driver and ACC weapons and tactics guy) and I are both hopeful that the Guard will get the recognition it deserves.

Friends that I have at langley and with the Richmond Air Guard have told me that there was a "hand shake" deal to paint 4 raptors up with VA tails, but for some reason, the deal went by the way side.

I don't know if it went by the wayside. There has been a change of command at the 1FW, Co. Barrett has been there for what, a month now? I have a feeling they'll revisit the conversation. Having said that IMO too it should have been a no brainer to include the 192nd as it is a done deal (the move). I'll guess that by the time the move is complete in Oct. We'll see something.

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VaANG to fly their last F-16 sorties