Forum: General F-16 forum

First of all thank you all the great information, Henrik.

In regards to foreign units based in the United States, how does the naming protocol work? Will the Dutch unit simply retain their identity or will they also adopt an American unit designation? I know there are Block-60s with AZ tail flash, but if I'm correct they are flown by American pilots too. I guess this is one of those things you don't really hear much about so I'm not really sure where to look to figure it out.

Thanks in advance!

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Last edited by LinkF16SimDude on Nov 08, 2006 - 12:40 AM; edited 1 time in total

AFAIK, aircraft that are long-term based in the US must have some kind of US designation affixed, whether it's a tail number, fin flash, etc. The Luftwaffe did it with their Phantoms at Holloman. And as with the UAE now, when the KLu was in Tucson in the 90's, all their jets had Tucson fins (and USAF-style serials too IIRC) but they all had a small tri-color rondel on the left side of the intake to differentiate them from the others.

It should be interestin' to see a Springfield fin on an MLU jet! Cool

And if what Henrik said comes to pass, the locals are gonna think their bein' invaded! (but in the best of ways, natuurlijk!) Wink

Good evening to You, as well rjsmith,

It is very nice to have You here!! Interesting to hear that many of my personal thoughts really are more or less the very same things going on "over there"!!

Mid terms...hmmmm, probably a wise decision to delay any big changes until after these elections.

The transfer of the Mountain-Home based F-16s might also be due to that fact that the Singapore Air Force are talking about basing an upcoming Strike Eagle training unit with ten aircraft at MO and the consolidation of the stateside based F-15E community.

I can also only imagine the feelings among the thousands of enlisted personnel currently working on a certain system and suddenly are being told, "If You will continue to work here You must learn a whole new system or transfer to a unit across the country!!".

Also the work load on current units. What would this work load be, if several units suddenly would loose aircraft and reduce in numbers. Those remaining units would have an even higher deployment rate as overseas commitments do not seem to diminish.

From a personal view I really hope many of those decisions where units appointed to close down or change missions will be reversed.

Greetings,

Henrik.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:

AFAIK, aircraft that are long-term based in the US must have some kind of US designation affixed, whether it's a tail number, fin flash, etc...... Wink

You are right, Dude!! Very interesting to see, if Dutch F-16 MLUs will carry the "OH" tail code and some kind of tail band.

All former Tuscon based Dutch F-16s with the 162nd (T)FW all looked like their US counter parts and were only identified by a small Dutch roundel under the navigation lights on the sides of the intake.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Quote:

I can also only imagine the feelings among the thousands of enlisted personnel currently working on a certain system and suddenly are being told, "If You will continue to work here You must learn a whole new system or transfer to a unit across the country!!".

The only people that will be affected by this move will be F-16 specific personel. Those would include the pilots, avionics troops, and non 7-level crew chiefs. All other maintainers and support personel can cross-flow to the F-15 community as if no different than a new assignment. I was an avionics troop there in the 389th for 2 and half years and I can honestly say its nice to see that base off our assignment listing.

149th FS F-16s are definitely moving right now:

http://www.f-16.net/news_article2031.html

Many thanks Jon,

At the moment the 149th FS should have only around 9 Vipers left!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

Last edited by Henrik on Feb 03, 2007 - 02:31 AM; edited 1 time in total

ACC changes;

As mentioned earlier in this tread many of the ANG/AFRC squadrons that are increasing their aircraft numbers could not increase these numbers without aircraft from the 27 FW at Cannon AFB, NM.

27th Fighter Wing;

Today the 27th FW resides at Cannon AFB, NM and has a unique F-16 structure mix in its three squadrons;

522nd FS "Fireballs" flying Block-50 F-16CJ/DJs being a mix of aircraft transferred from the 20th FW at Shaw AFB, SC, as the 78th FS ("Bushmasters") stood down in late 2002/early 2003.

523rd FS "Crusaders" flying "Big Inlet" Block-30 F-16C/Ds transferred from various ANG and PACAF units. The majority of aircraft came from the ANG/PACAF during 1995 with few additions in 1998/99 from the 8th FW in Korea.

524th FS "Hounds of Heaven /(Dogs of War)" flying Block-40 F-16CG/DGs transferred from the 23rd WG / 74th FS at Pope AFB, NC during 1995 with additional examples coming from the 354th FW / 18th FS at Eielson AFB, AK, the 150th FW / 188th FS of the New Mexico ANG and the 388th FW at Hill AFB, UT.

Beginning in 2007 these three squadrons at Cannon will start to transfer their aircraft to other units as part of the BRAC results to close the 27th FW, but keep Cannon AFB open as an "enclave" awaiting new missions to be re-activated at the base.

For the moment the Block-50 aircraft of the 522nd FS will go into the "War Reserve".

The aircraft of the 523rd FS will be distributed among units in the ANG and AFRC. At the moment the 115th FW / 176th FS of the Wisconsin ANG will receive six aircraft and the 150th FW / 188th FS will receive eight from the 523rd FS.

The rest of the "Big Inlet" Block-30 aircraft in the 523rd might find their way into the AFRC unit in Florida (482nd FW / 93rd FS).

The Block-40 aircraft of the 524th FS will primarily go to the 388th FW and the 4th FS. 34th FS and 421st FS to bring these three squadron totals to 72 aircraft.

Further comments are VERY welcome.

Hello Henrik

My hats of to you for this compilation Salute

Hi Boman,

Many thanks for Your kind words. I hope to get answers on all these questions at some point!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

Last edited by Henrik on Feb 03, 2007 - 07:07 PM; edited 1 time in total

"Happy Hooligans".

A truly great out-fit and unique in the US Viper community this unit has achieved quite many milestones over the years. I have chosen to make this separate article for the "Happy Hooligans".

Once being part of several F-16 units in the NORAD air defense chain flying the F-16AFD version, the 119th FW / 178th FS the "Happy Hooligans"is the last operational ANG unit flying the Block-15 F-16ADF version.

The 2005 BRAC decisions will turn the 119th into a transport unit now operating a couple C-21s and ultimately Predator UAVs as well as the Future Light Cargo Aircraft.

Their current Block-15 F-16ADFs in the 119th and the AZ ANGs 162nd FW are in the process of retiring to AMARC with several examples already being stored there ending the USAF operations of the F-16ADF variant.

Some milestones achieved by the 119th FW;

March 1990 - Converted from F-4Ds to Block-15 F-16A/Bs. These Vipers were later converted to the ADF standard.

October 1994 - Won the bi-annual "William Tell" air defense competition at Tyndall AFB, FL.

September 1998 - Assumed the alert det. at Langley AFB, VA.

March 1999 - Adopted a general purpose mission still flying the F-16ADFs and manning the alert det. at Langley AFB.

September 11 2001 - Scramble of the three alert aircraft out of Langley AFB, VA and taking an active part in Operation "Noble Eagle"/homeland defense in the years to come.

March 2006 - Conducting more than 70.000 accident free flying hours.

All the best to the Hooligans.

http://www.norad.mil/newsroom/photos/ai ... 706_hi.htm

California ANG upgrade.

From an article in "Air Forces Monthly" Dec. 2006.

The first two Block-32 F-16s from the 188th FW / 184th FS of the Arkansas ANG arrived in Fresno, CA for new use in the 144th FW / 194th FS on Oct. 18.

The US Congress has decided that the 144th FW will stay in operation beyond 2012 and base officials in Fresno are currently seeking F-15 Eagles which is scheduled to stay in service until 2040!!!!

Personal note from me:
As mentioned by me in a now deleted topic, I suggested the re-equipment of the 144th FW with F-15C/D Eagles right away instead of Block-32 F-16s, as the Block-32s currently transferred to the CA ANG offer no advantage to the Block-25s operated in the 144th FW until now - except maybe fewer flight hours!!

Last edited by Henrik on Nov 14, 2006 - 07:51 PM; edited 1 time in total

Cannon AFB update.

The 27th FW currently based at Cannon AFB, NM will stand down from 2007 onwards.

The 1st SOW is expected to be re-activated at Cannon AFB, NM during the next three years housing - among other squadrons - the 73rd SOS operating 12 newly modified MC-130W variant of the versatile Hercules.

Greetings,

Henrik.

New York ANG update.

As mentioned by me earlier in this topic the 174th FW / 138th FS is not affected by the BRAC. It will, however, receive additional aircraft from other BRAC´ed units.

In regard to the NY ANG adding a further mission might involve transition to the MQ-9 Reaper UAV, but probably this decision will not be taken before 2009.

Greetings,

Henrik.

At first: Special thanks for your intensive research work, Henrik! Thumb

Secondly: Thanks to all users who support Henrik in this special case! As I announced, this very hot topic should be a "bestseller" for years! Wink

Related to the five F-16s which finally departed from the 389th FS, about one week ago I asked 366WGPA@mountainhome.af.mil and Air Force photography on www.af.mil to fix the hi-res links of the following two online pictures:

Animated by Jon, I also asked the Public Affairs Department of WLTX-TV for a larger version of the following picture:

Note: This picture clearly shows ".47“. That must be 93-0547 (Block 52Q).

Unfortunately, in both cases I got not a single reply! This ignorance, at least from USAF PA personnel, is simply frustrating! In my eyes, each professional webmaster should careful check-out each link before any "hot" upload. But apparently, these guys are unable to correct their mistakes.

This AP photo (already posted above), taken by Master Sgt. Richard Hodges (South Carolina ANG) from the opposite, clearly shows 93-0545 (Block 52Q) and 91-0401 (Block 52D). The third 389th FS jet has a "8..“ tail number, but there are too much "8..“s with this squadron.

Anyone from the 157th FS "Swamp Foxes", 169th FW (South Carolina ANG), McEntire ANGB, who will give us the remaining two serial numbers (or the verification of all five former 389th FS aircraft)? We on F-16.net would be very grateful!

Forum: General F-16 forum

Post-BRAC 2005 F-16 line-up