Military Aviation News

F-16 News

 Colorado ANG F-16s participate in Eager Lion
Six F-16s from the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing along with more than 60 ground personnel took off from Buckley Air Force Base early Tuesday morning on en route to a military training exercise in Jordan.
RNLAF F-16 Pilot Training and Logistics Support
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress May 17 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands for the continuation of a CONUS based RNLAF F-16 FTU and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $191 million.
Emerald Knights graduate class 12-EBG
Eighteen of the U.S. Air Forces' newest Viper pilots will culminate nine months of demanding training and receive their graduation certificates on May 17th.
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F-35 News

 F-35A completes 1st in-flight missile launch
An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft completed the first in-flight missile launch of an AIM-120 over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, June 5.
F-35B celebrates 1 year at Eglin
The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron-501 celebrated the one-year anniversary of flying the F-35B Lightning II on May 22, 2013, by continuing to train up the pilots and maintainers on the nation's newest fifth-generation fighter
F-35A instructor pilots qualify in aerial refueling
The initial cadre of F-35A Lightning II instructor pilots qualified in aerial refueling last week, adding another capability for student pilot training at the 33rd Fighter Wing's F-35 Integrated Training Center.
F-35 fighter takes another step forward
The Air Force took another step forward with its newest fighter jet when an advanced F-35 Lightning II landed at the service's lead training base, home to the largest fleet of F-35s worldwide.
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F-22 News

 Air Force to consolidate F-22 depot maintenance at...
The Air Force announced it is consolidating depot maintenance for the F-22 Raptor at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill AFB, Utah.
CTF celebrates Raptor's 1,000th sortie
The F-22 Combined Test Force celebrated an impressive milestone April 19, when the oldest flying Raptor successfully completed its 1,000th sortie.
Hawaiian F-22 Raptors successfully complete first...
A total force team comprised of F-22 Raptors, active duty and Hawaii Air National Guard personnel successfully completed the Hawaiian Raptors first over-water deployment when they returned from Red Flag 13-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, February 2.
Tyndall resumes F-22 flying operations
The 325th Fighter Wing resumed normal flight operations today as the Wing Commander, Col. David Graff, flew one of the first F-22 Raptor missions this morning at approximately 07:45 hrs.
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F-16 Fleet Status
F-16 fleet - Jun 19, 2013
Fleet overview:
scrapped: 53
write-off: 557
preserved: 128
stored: 640
instructional: 93
on order: 62
active: 3048
Changes '12/'13:
Fleet adds: 57
Fleet drop: 49
See detailed fleet reports
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Today in history
19 Jun 1984
Maiden flight of the first F-16C, a block 25 aircraft.
(Read more...)
19 Jun 1995
RTAF accepts first F-16 from Peace Naresuan III order.
Quote of the Day
Fighter pilots make movies, attack pilots make history.
-- Bumper sticker
F-16 Hall of Fame
Lost in the Desert
USAF #79343
F-16A Block 10
Attrition mostly takes place in the early years of an F-16. This particular F-16, a USAF F-16A built in 1979 crashed 3 years after it rolled off the production line. The tail can still be found at the crash site in the Nevada desert.
See more F-16 Aircraft profiles
The F-16 Fighting Falcon Forum
Callsign of the day

Callsign "SLAG"

This was on a TV programme in the UK about the US Navy. The new pilot had his first cat shot in an F/A-18E and said he screamed like a girl due to the rush. The other pilots were trying to think of a callsign for him in the ready room, when one of the film crew suggested SLAG (Screams Like A Girl), and certainly not a complimentary nickname in UK - slag is the waste product. Not sure if it became official though.
Sierra Hotel
Latest Viper Drivers to reach 1K - 6K flying hours:
6,000 Hours 6,000 Hrs
2008-05-02

  Lt.Col. Mike "Brillo" Brill

| 466 FS | 421 FS  
5,000 Hours 5,000 Hrs
2012-03-13

  Lt.Col. Kurt R. "Lo-Tek" Tek

| 162 FW | 162 FW  
4,000 Hours 4,000 Hrs
2012-08-08
3,000 Hours 3,000 Hrs
2013-03-28
2,000 Hours 2,000 Hrs
2013-02-27
1,000 Hours 1,000 Hrs
2012-12-26

  Capt. Kaan Bostan

192 Filo  
See more F-16 Pilots profiles
Crew Chief Profiles

 SSgt. Mark Givans

 (added: 11 Jun 2013)
512 FS

 TSgt. Wally Kolkmeier

 (added: 10 Jun 2013)
524 FS

 TSgt. Bart Phillips

 (added: 7 Feb 2008)
AT-38 | F-117 | 17 FS | 33 FS | 78 FS | 523 FS | 35 FS | 523 FS

 SSgt. Earl Heron

 (added: 19 Nov 2011)
429 TFS

 SSgt. Troy Herberholz

 (added: 25 May 2013)
22 FS | 22 FS | 13 FS | 13 FS
F-16 Unit
349 sqn "Mace" (BAF)