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
You have to be lucky enough to learn from other people's experiences, experienced enough to be able to avoid experience-generating encounters, and lucky enough to survive the situations from which experience is derived.
-- Unknown
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
BAF F-16A, #FA-91, wearing the 40 year anniversary scheme of 23 sqn in 1991
F-16 Hall of Fame
First General Electric powered F-16
USAF #75745
F-16A
Modified as F-16/101 with a General Electric F101 engine and first flight with this engine was on May 29th, 1981. This engine later led to the GE F110 engine installed from block 30 onwards.
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F-16 Unit
178 FS "Happy Hooligans" (USAF ANG)
Callsign of the day

Callsign "Slot"

Hit the jackpot on a slot machine at ZAB just before my naming ceremony in 1989. Survived the "Tubes" run at Plaza de San Francisco so Slot was all they could come up with. Fighting Hawks tried to rename me 6 months later because the call sign was too cool. Went through the whole process again, only to get Slot once more.
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  
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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