News Archive

October 2005


31 October 2005 Taiwan F-16 combat capability under question
The combat capability of the Republic of China Air Force's F-16 jets came under question Friday after it was revealed that two F-16s sent to sink an overturned cargo ship carrying a load of toxic chemicals Thursday fired four laser-guided bombs but failed to accomplish their mission. ...
31 October 2005 Israel to sell dozens of F-16s to Romania
Washington OKs deal between Romania and Israel; Bucharest will purchase dozens of F-16 aircrafts from Israel in a deal worth around USD 150 million....
30 October 2005 Coordination plus cooperation equals success
To fly an aircraft in the Montana Air National Guard, it takes many coodinated steps in within the Wing. When aircraft 86-0328 sustained structural damage while in Balad, Iraq last summer, the next mission just became a whole lot difficult. ...
28 October 2005 Raptors return with insight, information
The familiar sound of flying Raptors will soon fill the Virginia skies again. The 27th Fighter Squadron returns to Langley AFB on Oct. 28 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, ending two weeks of out-of-town training and bringing the first-ever deployment for the F/A-22 Raptor to a close....
28 October 2005 1st EMS troops build Joint Direct Attack Munitions for first deployment of Langley F/A-22s
When 1,000 pounds of steel and concrete fell a mile and smashed through the back of a truck, it ushered in a new era for the 1st Fighter Wing -- the return of air-to-ground combat. That mission ended in 1975 for the wing....
27 October 2005 Greece interested in 40 new F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft
On 25 October 2005, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Greece of 40 F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3.1 billion....
27 October 2005 First F-16C to break 6,000 flight hours
While deployed to Balad AB, Iraq with the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, an F-16C+ Fighting Falcon of the 111th FS surpassed its 6,000 flying-hour milestone....
26 October 2005 Media greets the F/A-22
Approximately 150 Airmen from the 27th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing from Langley AFB, Va. arrived at Hill AFB Saturday with the Air Force's newest fighter, the F/A-22 Raptor....
22 October 2005 Selfridge's 107th Squadron named 'best of the best'
The way in which the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base conducts its overseas missions has been recognized with the Air Force's highest honor....
21 October 2005 Israel suspends contract to upgrade Venezuelan F-16s
Israel has frozen a lucrative contract with Venezuela Air Force to upgrade its F-16s under American pressure, according to the Israeli public radio....
21 October 2005 Belgian F-16B OCU in DACT exercise with Czech Air Force Gripen and L-159
In a friendly encounter 4 F-16B's of the Kleine Brogel based Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) headed for Caslav AFB in the Czech Republic on 12 October to practice Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics (DACT). ...
18 October 2005 Luke F-16s receiving modern makeover
Some F-16s at Luke Air Force Base are undergoing remodeling that will give the old fighter-bombers renewed vigor and double their life spans. The upgrades are bringing the F-16 to the "leading edge of technology," said Col. Tim Strawther, 44, the 56th Operations Group commander....
17 October 2005 First F/A-22 deployment is for training
The Raptors are leaving the nest for their first deployment. Nearly 170 Airmen left here Oct. 15 on a two-week deployment to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This may sound like a run-of-the-mill temporary duty assignment. But for the Langley Airmen, it is far from a typical out-of-town operation. ...
12 October 2005 USAF F-16C rolls off runway at Balad AB, pilot unharmed
An F-16C Fighting Falcon was damaged last Sunday when it rolled off a runway after landing at Balad Air Base in central Iraq, according to an Air Force report....
11 October 2005 Montana ANG headed to Florida for Combat Archer exercise
A group of 82 pilots and maintenance personnel from the Montana Air National Guard is taking part in a two-week air-to-air training exercise out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Fla....
08 October 2005 Belgian F-16s in Kabul performed their first life ground support mission
On October 5th, Belgian F-16AMs deployed to Kabul - Afghanistan, performed their first life close air support missions near Bagram. ...
08 October 2005 Royal Netherlands Air Force offers surplus F-16s to Chile and Brazil
The Chilean air force is in negotiations for the acquisition of 20 to 28 surplus Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s. The aircraft are needed to replace Chile's entire fleet of ageing Mirage-5MA and Mirage- 50C/FC aircraft, which are expensive to operate and maintain....
07 October 2005 Belgian Air Force F-16s at the Active Lion exercise
During the "Active Lion" part of the major Belgian defence exercise "Active Response", the Air Component's participation was composed of fighter aircraft, transports and helicopters. ...
07 October 2005 37 Polish pilots begin advanced tactical training on F-16C/D Block 52M+
Poland will send an additional group of up to 24 pilots to the US for conversion onto the Lockheed Martin F-16C fighter. For that purpose Poland received USD40 million....
04 October 2005 Pakistani F-16s reach 100,000 accident free flight hours
A three-member delegation of Pratt & Whitney called on Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force at Air Headquarters to present a plaque to the Chief of the Air Staff in recognition of flying the F-16, for over 100,000 accident-free flight hours....
04 October 2005 Pakistan will acquire 77 F-16s via the US
Pakistan will buy 77 F-16 jets from the U.S. which Washington will acquire from a third country, after they are fitted with the state-of-the-art equipment, Islamabad's Ambassador to America Gen (retd) Jehangir Karamat said.
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04 October 2005 Israel's new F-16 squadron
115 Squadron known as 'Flying Dragon Squadron' is now operational with the F-16A/B as a dedicated aggressor squadron....
01 October 2005 Danish Air Force F-16s scare Rudolf to death
The Danish Air Force has paid 30,000 krones (about $4,800) in damages to a local Santa Claus after its F-16s scared his only reindeer to death, Danish television reported Friday....
01 October 2005 Texas ANG F-16 pilot passes the 4,000-hour mark
Col. Jeffrey S. 'CAG' Smiley, pilot with the 111th Fighter Squadron (part of the ANG 147 FW), passed the 4,000-hour mark in the F-16 during an Operation Iraqi Freedom combat mission....