This is the first jet I crewed on day shift at Hill AFB while in the 16th TFTS at Hill AFB during the summer of 1981 until Feb 1982. During that time it was an excellent flying jet.

Above comment posted by former ADCC Eric "Soda" Sodersrtom

I worked this jet from Aug 1995 until Feb 1998. The picture you see shown of the aircraft in the FW configuration was taken during my time assigned to the aircraft and featured in Torch magazine in 1996. This aircraft at the time was the OG aircraft and painted specially for this shoot as the actual Wing Commanders aircraft was assigned to the 63rd and was in Phase at the time. I'll never forget all of the prep work, it was a week of wash rack, paint, prep, and polish. I truely enjoyed my time with this aircraft and miss working the F-16's. Many thanks to my former DCC's on the aircraft during my 3 years on it; Scott "Scooter" Stockdale, Craig Laurel, and Bill Andrews for showing me the ropes as a young airman.

I remember editing this photo for SSgt Ellsworth, the current DDC at the time.

I am retired now but I was an elctro-environmental troop stationed with the 310th FS from 95-01 I was lucky enough to be cut trained as a crew chief and was "given" this aircraft when it returned from its falcon up mod. She still looks great even without 310th markings

That's not MacDill

That's not MacDill, must be an airshow somewhere. MacDill does not have a water tower like that.

Looks like he's actually taking off. Boards aren't out, and he's way too low to the ground for his gear to still be in transition for landing.

HAHAHA GILA BEND FTW

I believe 78-0002 has been rebuilt, but it suffered an engine fire when it tossed a compressor blade through one of the fuel-fed blade control lines. The aircraft was at EOR in a line with at least a dozen other aircraft. The whole thing was witnessed by a bus load of civilians on the Thursday Luke AFB tour. The right aft portion of the aircraft took the brunt of the damage. I think CLSS fixed it at Hill.

1177 is way better

"Magnificent cloud cover" could otherwise be defined at MacDill as meaning "in 3 minutes it's going to be raining so hard you couldn't even see the jet..." Usually every day, right around shift change.

1177 my favorite F-16 at LUKE AFB. My first photo of an F-16 was of this plane. why it is my favorite i have no idea

I crewed this jet from 1997 to 2000 at Nellis AFB. She was one of the best jets I've ever had the pleasure of maintaining. She was sat on her rear during a brake test and the only damage was the Ventral fins and Main Gear doors! She flew Code 1 on the FCF and 5 flights after! 767 is the pride of the fleet!

On 27 Dec 1992 I launched aircraft 90-0778 call sign Benji 41 for a combat mission from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The only reason for it flying the combat mission (4 Hours) that day was to take flying hours off it so it could go in for a phase inspection. Most of its flight time during Operation Southern Watch was (FAM) rides for in coming pilots and VIP's, being the only D model. The canopy was so bad that Lt. Col North (at that time) stated "it was like landing with a paper bag on your head. HA! The family bus still got the job done that day. I also remember a reporter asking Lt. Col North why he did not use the cheaper missile, his come back was great; he stated if you were in a fight and had a knife and a gun, which one would you use. We painted the star and a blue tail on it while it was in phase, because it was on loan from the 19th FS at the time, then it became a 33rd FS aircraft. I stayed as the Crew Chief of 778 when we returned to Shaw, AFB and then transferred out with it to Luke AFB, AZ. I took my retirement flight in 90-0778 and launched Gen. North one more time when he came through Luke. I do miss those days!

95-97------DCC SSgt Charles Bird-----ADCC AMN Gavina Valerde---------97-97----DCC: Sra Todd E.Koons-----ADCC: A1C John C. Acquart-----97-98 --------DCC: SRA John C. Acquart-------98-99----DCC: SSgt Damon Clawson

The guy in the cockpit, riding the brakes is me, Carlos Valenzuela. That was my first F-16. After crewing F-4s this aircraft was a walk in the park. Great flying aircraft, lots of good memories. As a metter of fact, it was parked were my old F-4 parking spot -- Spot 13. Great to see it again. Does anyone know were she is now? Val Viper5

Ellsworth a I did a great job designing the covers!!! Still the best in the fleet. "Once a Duck, Always a Duck!" - J. Thomas, SSgt, USAF

I too was the DCC on this jet from 91-94 at the 180TH FW in Toledo, Ohio. It performed very well during the time I crewed it. Mike Carman

That is a "Big Inlet" Block-30E - 86-0356.

I was the crew chief in 91-92,didn`t know the truck could take off with speed brakes open.

the photo was at Columbus AFB, Mississippi for an airshow. not Columbus IAP

Yes LUKE has NO GE Vipers...We are all P&W..Also, Luke has a small amount of big mouth vipers...We mainly have the small mouth..We are going through a refirbishment phase so we will see what happends..Hopefully well get the GE engines and the big mouth air intakes...

I was a crew chief on this aircraft at macdill afb at the 56thttw in 1985 until it was shipped to a guard base in 1986 to 1987

Last Crew Chief TSgt Joe W. La Fitte, now CMS.