Military Aviation News

F-16 News

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.
115th FW train with Polish air force
Nearly 100 Airmen assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, are deployed to train in a joint theater security cooperation event with the Polish air force.
See more F-16 News

F-35 News

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.
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.
See more F-35 News

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.
See more F-22 News
F-16 Fleet Status
F-16 fleet - May 25, 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
Sponsor
Quote of the Day
We pivot on a dark wing; we roar over the earth. The plane seems exultant now, even arrogant. We dit it, we did it! We are up; we are off. We can toss you aside now, for we are above it.
-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Listen! the wind (1938)
Today in history
Image Gallery
USAF F-16A block 15 #82-0921 of the 170th FS surounded by dark clouds just prior to a well known American thunderstorm.
F-16 Hall of Fame
Twin Canards
USAF #01567
YF-16
The first YF-16 (#72-1567) was rebuilt in December of 1975 to become the USAF Flight Dynamics Laboratory's Control Configured Vehicle (CCV). CCV aircraft have independent or 'decoupled' flight control surfaces, which make it possible to maneuver in one plane without movement in another - for example, turning without having to bank. To achieve this, the aircraft's flight controls were modified and it was fitted with twin vertical canards underneath the air intake. First flight in the CCV role was on March 16th, 1976 and the tests lasted till July 31st, 1977. On June 24th, 1976 was damaged when the engine failed during a landing cycle. It was repaired but broken again in a hard landing in July of 1977. This cut the CCV tests short.
See more F-16 Aircraft profiles
F-16 Unit
23 gruppo "Veltro" (AMI)
Callsign of the day

Callsign "Gasm"

a guy at TopGun in 92, LT 'Gasm' Orr
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 Troy Herberholz

 (added: 25 May 2013)
22 FS | 22 FS | 13 FS | 13 FS

 TSgt. Jesus Gaston Rivera

 (added: 19 Jul 2008)
310 FS | 36 FS | 510 FS | F-117 | 80 FS | 310 FS | 8 FW

 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