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 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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Today in history
20 Jun 2006
F-16C #87-0359 is the first block 40 viper worldwide to surpass the 6,000 flying-hours milestone.
(Read more...)
20 Jun 2007
Last ANG F-16A (#82-0993) arrives at AMARC for storage under designation AAFG0553.
(Read more...)
Quote of the Day
Jet and piston engines work on the same principle: Suck and squeeze, blow and go.
-- Unknown
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
Callsign of the day

Callsign "GRAT"

My name's THYS... I was initially called TYSON, but it sounded "too cool" to my instructors. So they named me GRAT for grat-thys, or gratis, like "for free". I think it must be one of the stupidest plays on words ever, but it ended up sticking.
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
414 CTS "Aggressors" (USAF ACC)