Forum: F-16 News

Thats because they're guard jets...

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Active Member Joined: Jan 06, 2004 - 03:22 PM Posts: 209

Gotta give the "CC" credit too. From left to right we have: Maj. Mark Mitchum, SSgt. Hugh Price, Lt. Col. Mark McCauley, TSgt Ricky Barbour, Col. Charles Smith, TSgt Corbett Allen.

Almost forgot, if anyone is counting, from left to right that's 86-223, 86-219 and 86-231

Thanks for your great pics, Ace02! Thumb

And the "Richmond Times-Dispatch" released a very nice video clip!
<a href="http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-06-21-1100.html">Short news and video link</a>

swanee wrote:

174wepsw wrote:

At Least they'll be able to still work on a manned aircraft. 174th is going unmanned REAPER... or so they say.

The old man retired from 174th in 2004. He still says that word on the street (from both his ACC contacts as well as his SYR buddies) is that the 138th will still fly vipers and a new squadron will fly the predators. At least, that is the best case scenario. But, they have also heard what you say, Syr loses the Vipers. Sad to see, as the old man was around for the A-37, A-10 and F-16 days.

Plus, how much would it suck to have to run the Det up at Fort Drum and the FOL as a predator pilot? You get to watch the guys at the range, but you don't get that mission anymore.

Well we were hoping that we would keep both missions.....but.. we were told we were to lose them in the up coming years... I'm not going to give details, because I don't think I can.

I'm not sure about the FOL. I think we'll still have control, I'm not sure whats going to happen though.

Sorry to all the VA guys. you aren't alone!!!

174wepsw wrote:

I'm not going to give details, because I don't think I can.

You can't, not here.

How long have you been around the unit? The old man was an AGR guy at ACC from 97-04. He ran the range and did the FOL thing from about 93-97 or so. He goes by Swanee also. I'm pledging the unit this next year, which is why I'm getting into what is going on up there with airplanes; we tried to make it up to the alumni weekend but things didn't work out.

Last edited by Irunwire on Jun 22, 2007 - 03:07 PM; edited 1 time in total

SixerViper

Well, the feelings from all the remaining folks at the VaANG (Sandston) we definetely feel like we were SOLD OUT. As a current maintainer and one who will not be reloacating to Langley in the fulltime status it is a real shame to see what is happening with the unit. It will no longer exist. We are just numbers on Langleys manning document. The numbers speak for their selves if they would truly be reported. Very few technicians are making the move, a lot have said no or have said yes and plan not to relocate. I do not have enough fingers and toes to count all of the technicians that have left to go to other jobs at DSCR (or as we call it DET 4), DCANG (DET%) or taken jobs close to home. the real sad thing is to see alot of the guys retiring at 20 or just over when most people will stay well past that. As for the partimers on the flightline, alot of them are punching out or are transferring to units out of state. All I can say it is a said day in Air Natioanal Guard History (IMO).

Thanks for you comments Irunwire

Slight change in topic, does any one know what is going to happen to 86-0242 which has been in depot at Hill since December 2000 after a mishap? It was scheduled to return to the 149th FS. Has it been transfered to another unit on paper only?

USAF F-16C block 30 #86-0242 of 192 FS, seen here at Hill AFB during depot level maintainance.

Jon wrote:

Thanks for you comments Irunwire

Slight change in topic, does any one know what is going to happen to 86-0242 which has been in depot at Hill since December 2000 after a mishap? It was scheduled to return to the 149th FS.

It is not coming back here we only have 4 jets now and 223 and 1572 are leaving next week. I was just told that 242 went to Carswell. Hope that helps.

Irunwire wrote:

SixerViper

Well, the feelings from all the remaining folks at the VaANG (Sandston) we definetely feel like we were SOLD OUT. As a current maintainer and one who will not be reloacating to Langley in the fulltime status it is a real shame to see what is happening with the unit. It will no longer exist. We are just numbers on Langleys manning document. The numbers speak for their selves if they would truly be reported. Very few technicians are making the move, a lot have said no or have said yes and plan not to relocate. I do not have enough fingers and toes to count all of the technicians that have left to go to other jobs at DSCR (or as we call it DET 4), DCANG (DET%) or taken jobs close to home. the real sad thing is to see alot of the guys retiring at 20 or just over when most people will stay well past that. As for the partimers on the flightline, alot of them are punching out or are transferring to units out of state. All I can say it is a said day in Air Natioanal Guard History (IMO).

Well personally I think its a great day in ANG history...being allowed to fly and fix the latest and greatest! It shows a great deal of confidence in the folks from the ANG...and rightly earned! As for everyone 'punching out' and leaving because they feel sold out...they'll be replaced by folks who arn't quitters and who realize that things like this happen in the military.

[quote="checksixx"]

Irunwire wrote:

SixerViper

Well, the feelings from all the remaining folks at the VaANG (Sandston) we definetely feel like we were SOLD OUT. As a current maintainer and one who will not be reloacating to Langley in the fulltime status it is a real shame to see what is happening with the unit. It will no longer exist. We are just numbers on Langleys manning document. The numbers speak for their selves if they would truly be reported. Very few technicians are making the move, a lot have said no or have said yes and plan not to relocate. I do not have enough fingers and toes to count all of the technicians that have left to go to other jobs at DSCR (or as we call it DET 4), DCANG (DET 5) or taken jobs close to home. the real sad thing is to see alot of the guys retiring at 20 or just over when most people will stay well past that. As for the partimers on the flightline, alot of them are punching out or are transferring to units out of state. All I can say it is a said day in Air Natioanal Guard History (IMO).

Quote:

checksixx
Well personally I think its a great day in ANG history...being allowed to fly and fix the latest and greatest! It shows a great deal of confidence in the folks from the ANG...and rightly earned! As for everyone 'punching out' and leaving because they feel sold out...they'll be replaced by folks who arn't quitters and who realize that things like this happen in the military.

checksixx

As for everyone It may be good for the ANG to fly the and fix the F-22, but at whom's expense. We will NEVER own these aircraft. We will NEVER go TDY as a unit. On drill weekend we will NEVER all work together as a unit. It really is funny that one would think that people leaving a unit that is moving to another location be called quitters. If finding a new federal job as close to your HOR as Sandston is and not having to relocate is a quitter than I guess I will be a quitter then. But since I for one would have to move my HOR at least 70 miles closer to fullfill their bull@@@@ 50 mile PCS requirement and then have to pay triple my house payment for 1/2 the land that I currently own and up root my children from their school system that they have been in for over 6 years now then I feel like I am bettering myself. I did my base closure tour on Active duty with 2 of the 3 bases I was at closing and now with the new BRAC my third base is closing and Sandston is closing also. At least on AD they would take care of you as best they could. We have people that are down at Langley now that legally do not have to be down there yet but volunteered any way and they are still fighti ng to get PCS orders. This is all one big mess and I could go on for hours and hours about this subject but I will end it here. This move is great for some but not for all

Ace02

I wanted to thank you for those pics you posted. I am one of the Crew Chiefs in the pic of all the pilots and Crew Chiefs. Not everyone is willing to express their views on what they think of the move and I will agree that the move is not for everyone but good for some of the others. Once again thank you for the Pics.

Active Member Joined: Jan 06, 2004 - 03:22 PM Posts: 209

good for you man. I had a feeling it wasn't for everyone but so far we've only heard pretty good things from "JP" but then it's his job to say that isn't it? If you want a copy of the pic please feel free to pm me of shoot me an email. I'd be happy to get you a print.

aceartanddesign(at symbol)yahoo.com

see ya on the flightline... somewhere.

(email edited to protect from email harvesters by Jon)

(thanks Jon!)

Hello Ace,

Many thanks for Your great pictures and news update on the VA ANG!! I met some of these guys in 2002 here in Denmark - GREAT bunch of people. All the best to the new mission and aircraft at hand.

Do You know where these last four F-16s are going??

Greetings,

Henrik.

USAF released the following three shots:

Lt. Col. Mark McCauley (from left), Col. Charles Smith and Maj. Mark Mitchum, pilots with the Virginia ANG walk to their respective F-16s on June 20th, 2007 for their final flight in that aircraft. Pilots from the 192nd are transitioning from the F-16 to the F-22 Raptor and belong to the first ANG unit to fly the Raptor.

Maj. Mark Mitchum, a pilot with the 192nd FW, waves as he taxis down the runway with F-16C block 30 #86-0223 prior to flying his last mission on June 20th, 2007. Pilots from the 192nd are transitioning from the F-16 to the F-22 Raptor and belong to the first ANG unit to fly the Raptor.

Active Member Joined: Jan 06, 2004 - 03:22 PM Posts: 209

Sam Rogers is a great shooter. I wish I was young enough to lug the stuff around that he does when he's out there shootin! I believe that the three jets were TX bound and they were saying that once the "family model" is fixed it'll go to Edwards,

Forum: F-16 News

VaANG to fly their last F-16 sorties