Forum: F-16 News

Hey Guys, this was on SDNG's Facebook page, if you'd like to hang it on the news section...

South Dakota National Guard's Notes - Facebook wrote:

First of new F-16’s to arrive at Joe Foss Field

Today at 7:43am
April 26, 2010

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The next chapter in the history of the South Dakota Air National Guard begins at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27. The new era will start as Colonel Russ Walz, commander of the 114th Fighter Wing, lands the first of the newly assigned Block 40 F-16’s at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls.

The 175th Fighter Squadron of the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing has been flying Block 30 F-16 aircraft since 1991. These jets, soon to be retired or transferred, will be replaced by a squadron of newer Block 40 F-16’s. The 22 replacement jets are scheduled to transfer from Hill AFB, Utah to Sioux Falls during the timeframe of April to September 2010.

The assignment of the enhanced Block 40 F-16’s will ensure that the 175th Fighter Squadron remains fully combat capable for many years into the future. The new aircraft will provide significant contributions to the squadron’s combat mission to deploy worldwide and execute tactical fighter sorties.

“The assignment of Block 40 F-16’s provides strong affirmation by U.S. Air Force leaders of their confidence in the contributions of the South Dakota Air National Guard to our nation’s defense,” said Col Russ Walz, commander of the 114th Fighter Wing. “This aircraft conversion will ensure that the 175th Fighter Squadron remains ready and relevant for many years to come.”

F-16.net Sponsor

Also see articles on this site:

<ul><li>Newer F-16s destined for Sioux Falls</li><li>175 FS to upgrade F-16s</ul></li>

Pics please Very Happy

Possible mover from this Fox 13 video is 88-0428

F-16's depart from HAFB in plan to reduce aircraft

Will there be any specific transition needed for the Block 40 aircraft for these guard guys? I am assuming the jets are already CCIP'd. So the mission of the unit will not be based on aircraft capability...

This is good news for the SDANG.

Now confirmed the two jets are

88-0428 & 88-0463

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0463 is the first of 22 block 40s to arrive at Joe Foss Field on April 27th, 2010. The aircraft will be retired from the 388th FW at Hill AFB and make their new home with the SDANG.

Asif wrote:

Now confirmed the two jets are

88-0428 & 88-0463

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0463 is the first of 22 block 40s to arrive at Joe Foss Field on April 27th, 2010. The aircraft will be retired from the 388th FW at Hill AFB and make their new home with the SDANG.

I live an hour away from there. I would have loved to see that.

Asif, great news and very prompt, I will share this at SDNG's Facebook page.

Now we have 2 Block 40 units right in the same vicinity, IA guys and Lobos... AFAIK, Hill jets are CCIP, what about IA jets? CUPID?

I watched them taxi in. I hate to give up the jets we have now, but I guess it's time for them to go. We're ready to start working on the "new" ones.

Why do you hate to give up the jets we have right now?

On an unrelated note, is the unit going to keep the tail art?

Bushmaster78FS wrote:

Why do you hate to give up the jets we have right now?

On an unrelated note, is the unit going to keep the tail art?

We're getting "newer" jets in year only, but they have more hours on them. We've had our current fleet for almost 20 years, and they run like champs. It's going to take a while to go through these jets and work the bugs out.

Yes, we will be putting the Lobo tail flash on these jets, and the C/C's are working on their nose art.

Are the pilots happy for the new avionics etc, or they pretty much share the same opinion as you guys? Did we get new TGP capability with these new jets? Do we use LITENING ?

If you want to join, check this out;

http://www.facebook.com/#!/SouthDakotaN ... ard?ref=ts

sd2azang wrote:

Yes, we will be putting the Lobo tail flash on these jets, and the C/C's are working on their nose art.

Can anyone post those photos if possible Very Happy

We only have two on the ground. The tail flash is low on the priority list, so it will take a while before there will be any pics. No feedback from the pilots yet, because we don't have all the tech data to work on them. Can't even do a BPO/PF. (see my post on ETIMS).