Military Aviation News

F-16 News

 RoCAF F-16 crashes into the sea - Pilot safe
A RoCAF F-16A block 20 crashed into the sea off the coast of Southern Taiwan, around 14.00h local time today, during a training flight. The pilot ejected and was rescued.
Turkish F-16C crashes close to Syrian border Turkish rescue teams have found the wreckage of a Turkish Airforce F-16C block 50 which crashed close to the Syrian border. The pilot Lt. Hamza Gümüşsoy ejected, but did not survive.
Iraq purchases a further 18 F-16s's
On Tuesday it was announced that Lockheed Martin Aeronautics were awarded a $830 Million contract to supply Iraq with a further batch of 18 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The contract is expected to run through till April 30, 2014.
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F-35 News

 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.
UK F-35 base announced
The UK's Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced today.
First international student pilot flies F-35
The first international student aviator at the 33rd Fighter Wing, training to be an F-35B Lightning II instructor pilot, completed his first sortie in the joint strike fighter here March 19.
Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony
In the Thunderbird Hangar filled to capacity, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, formally accepted delivery of three F-35A Lightning IIs March 19.
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F-22 News

 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.
F-22 crashes at Tyndall AFB
An Air Force F-22 Raptor crashed near Florida's Highway 98 on Thursday at 15:30hrs local time. The pilot was able to eject safely and there were no injuries on the ground, the military said.
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F-16 Fleet Status
F-16 fleet - May 20, 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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Quote of the Day
Everything I had ever learned about air fighting taught me that the man who is aggressive, who pushes a fight, is the pilot who is successful in combat and who has the best opportunity for surviving battle and coming home.
-- Major Robert S. Johnson, USAAF
Today in history
20 May 1983
US President Ronald Reagan's administration lifts nearly year-long embargo on sale of advanced F-16 fighter planes to Israel, imposed after Israel invaded Lebanon.
Image Gallery
PAF F-16C block 52 #10908 is seen coming into land at NAS Fort Worth on November 10th, 2010.
F-16 Hall of Fame
First European F-16
BAF #FB-01
F-16B Block 1
This was the first F-16 to be delivered to the Belgian Air Force and also the first F-16 that came off a European production line. In this case the SABCA factory. The aircraft was delivered to Beauvechain/Bevekom AB - home of the 1st Wing - in a wintery January of 1979. This first flight was performed by Col. Jerry Singleton (USAF) and Maj. Guy Devolder (BAF).
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F-16 Unit
Tayeset 115 "The Flying Dragon (Ha' Drakon Ha' Meofeef)" (IDFAF)
Callsign of the day

Callsign "Bent Bob"

P-3 flight engineer. Standing alert the 3rd day in a row, we'd already rented nearly every movie the Kadena Air base rental place had. Bob found this title and decided it looked good. Got back and popped it in the player in the day room. The entire crew was there. The movie "Bent" is about a gay jew in a Nazi concentration camp that falls in love with another gay.... well, you get the picture. He became "Bent Bob" after that.
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

 TSgt. Jason Blataric

 (added: 14 May 2013)
34 FS | 14 FS | 149 FW | 149 FW | 149 FW | 144 FW | 301 FW

 SSgt. Michael McMonigle

 (added: 19 Jun 2007)
61 FS | 310 FS | 56 FW | 51 FW

 TSgt. Matthew Merryman

 (added: 13 Apr 2013)
78 FS | 55 FS

 SrA. Joel Pfeiffer

 (added: 5 Apr 2013)
18 AS

 TSgt. David Milota

 (added: 16 Feb 2007)
22 FS | 22 FS | UAV Predator