Longest continuously serving F-16 troop?

PointyHead · by **PointyHead** » 27 Aug 2005, 04:59

Back when I showed up at Hill in March, 82, I was among the first 3-levels sent directly to the brand-new Viper. Before that, it was maintained by mostly prior F-4 guys.

I didn't think much of it over the years, until I noticed most of my contemporaries getting out either by separation or retirement.

I've been on the F-16 continually since I came in, stationed at:

Hill
Torrejon
Nellis
Luke
Kunsan
Spangdahlem
Hill
Gianaclis (Egypt F-16s)
and Luke

Any old-time Viper guys still on active duty?

229guy · by **229guy** » 27 Aug 2005, 05:29

Im not old time yet, I worked 4 yrs supporting the F-16 in engine back shop and 4yrs on the flight line working on them. So if my back shop time counts than Im slowly getting there.

Mt Home
Nellis

VPRGUY · by **VPRGUY** » 27 Aug 2005, 06:14

I'm at Hill now with a guy named Kelley who worked the F-16 here when in first came out, he was (is) a crew chief- sound familiar? He retires in six months...

IDCrewDawg · by **IDCrewDawg** » 27 Aug 2005, 09:01

15 years continious F-16 Crew Chief.

Luke 90-92
Kunsan 92-93
Hill 93-95
Turkey 95-97
Moody 97-01
Mt Home 01-03
Spangdahlem 03-present

c_pastorius · by **c_pastorius** » 28 Aug 2005, 12:49

Hell 19 strait years on the 16.

Macdill 86-89
TJ 89-92
Homestead 92
Moody 92-95
Osan 95-96
Spangdahlem 96-99
Cannon 99-02
Kunsan 02-03
Cannon (again) 03-05

And the streak ends there now Kadena old a$$ F-15's

2sBlind · by **2sBlind** » 28 Aug 2005, 21:57

ouch..... Cannon-Kun-Cannon. Did you date the commanders' daughter or something?

c_pastorius · by **c_pastorius** » 29 Aug 2005, 12:54

We call it the Can-Kun-Can connection it happens alot for some reason or another. When I got there I did not believe it but I will be dammed if its not true. Now that I am at a 15 base a whole new set of rules. They come in 3 hours before launch not 2 and the FMC rate is like 84 which is good for these jets. I am thinking this might be a painful 3 years but damn it is beautiful.

ViperEnforcer · by **ViperEnforcer** » 30 Aug 2005, 04:59

14 years on the Viper:

89-91 Misawa (Block 30's-NSI & MCID, Also AlDafra Block 25's.17th FS Augmentee)
91-94 Nellis (Block 32 & 42's)
94-95 Kunsan (Block 30 MCID)
95-02 Edwards (FSD, Blocks 5 -60, XL, VISTA, and all kinds of miss-match)

Even though I’m off the airframe, I still get to pull some special duties down the way. In a few years after retirement, I may be back to crewing them again full time, but as a Civilian.

Mike Valdez

thunderbirds · by **thunderbirds** » 08 Sep 2005, 00:12

20 years and still counting.

From the Block 10 all the way to the Block 60.

MacDill 85-87
Kunsan 87-88
MacDill 88-91
Kunsan 91-92
Luke 93-96
Nellis 96-99
Tyndall 99-04
Tucson ANG 2004-Present

Racer497 · by **Racer497** » 08 Sep 2005, 02:31

I know a guy who has crewed 16's since 91, But has been in the military since 1966. He has crewed f-84f, f-100's,f-4c and e, And block 25 and 30 16's. He has damn near see it all lol

PointyHead · by **PointyHead** » 09 Sep 2005, 01:22

T-birds, the block 60 is a hole on my F-16 resume' I'll probably never fill. I've worked Block 1s, 5s, 10s, 15s, 25s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Also the Taiwan Block 20s.

If I drive down to Tucson, maybe you guys will let me swap out a box or something to fill a square. Of course all I'm really qualified to do any more is catch an ER.

Davis83 · by **Davis83** » 14 Sep 2005, 19:30

Began F-16's in FTD at Nellis Oct 1983 then:

TJ 84-87
SW 87-98
OS 98-99
SW 99-02
OS 02-04
21 yrs
(the SW/ROK/SW/ROK tour)

then some wise guy decided I needed to "pay my dues" and sent me to SJ where I am suffering with the Strike Eagle - what a Piece o' junk. When they gave me ER orders the paperwork looked really funny:

Time on current MDS = 4 mos Other MDS = F-16 240mos

Purplehaze · by **Purplehaze** » 14 Sep 2005, 21:52

Hey Pointy

Of course all I'm really qualified to do any more is catch an ER.

You have done them with the best, haven't you...........LOL

Purple

PointyHead · by **PointyHead** » 17 Sep 2005, 05:12

Yeah. OAF was one of the highlights of my career. ERs and Copo Grosso...memories

elp · by **elp** » 17 Sep 2005, 05:43

PointyHead wrote:Back when I showed up at Hill in March, 82, I was among the first 3-levels sent directly to the brand-new Viper. Before that, it was maintained by mostly prior F-4 guys.

I didn't think much of it over the years, until I noticed most of my contemporaries getting out either by separation or retirement.

I've been on the F-16 continually since I came in, stationed at:

Hill
Torrejon
Nellis
Luke
Kunsan
Spangdahlem
Hill
Gianaclis (Egypt F-16s)
and Luke

Any old-time Viper guys still on active duty?

Wow!