F-16 Fighting Falcon News

September 18, 2007 (by Jon Somerville) - For the first time USAF F-16Cs are retired to AMARC, two block 25s from the 119th Fighter Squadron, the New Jersey ANG.
Although not the first F-16C/D to be retired in a sense as the first were the US Navy T/F-16Ns (Navy version of the F-16C/D). This marks the beginning of many F-16C/Ds that will be retired including these block 25s and even block 30/32s that will follow shortly. The first two aircraft which arrived in the afternoon of September 18, 2007 were #84-1260 and #84-1295. It is not clear which arrived first.

Aircraft #84-1260 was first accepted by the USAF back on October 31st 1985 and quickly put into service with the 17th TFS at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. During Desert Storm the aircraft deployed with the 33rd TFS and received nose art 'The Barbarian.' After the war the aircraft flew with the Kansas ANG and then the New Jersey ANG who retired the aircraft on September 18th 2007.

Aircraft #84-1295 was first accepted by the USAF on February 12th 1986 and flown to Ramstien AB, Germany to join the 86th TFW. It too was a Desert Storm veteran but flew with the 10th TFS. After the war the Viper was sent to the Kansas ANG followed for a bit over a year with the Vermont ANG and finally operated by the New Jersey ANG who retired the aircraft on September 18th 2007.