February 13, 2004 (by Anonymous) -
The long time of waiting has come towards an ending. The New Israeli F-16I "Sufa" (storm) are scheduled for arrival on February 19th, 2004. The two first planes (408, 409) will arrive at Mizpe Ramon base.
First take-off with an Israeli pilot at the controls
The Block 52+ planes are flown to Israel by USAF pilots. They will make a fuel stop at a base in Germany (or the Azores?) and will continue to Israel. The landing is scheduled for around 15:00.
The Sufa will be based in the Negev which is part of the overall plan by the IAF to "move southward."
The F-16Is are rolling off of the production line at Lockheed Martin's plant in Ft. Worth, Texas at a steady pace. They are being assembled next to F-16s for the United Arab Emirates and Greece.
A ceremony is has been foreseen at the base, with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, IDF and IAF commanders-in-chief, US Secretary of Defense and the president of Lockheed Martin.
