Crew Chief Profiles
SSgt.
Joni
"
Sawyer"
Kelsey
(Ret.)
My profile
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Name | SSgt. Joni Kelsey (Ret.) |
| Country |
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| Unit | 311th Fighter Squadron "Sidewinders" | |
| Crewing F-16s | from 1983 until 1994 | |
| Contact JONI*311 | Send me a private message | |
| Website | ||
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I started working on F-16's in the 16th AMU at Hill AFB, Utah in 1979. I got stationed at Kunsan AB, S.Korea in 1982. I was the 35th AMU. I got station at Luke AFB, Arizona in 1983. I was in the 311TH AMU where I got to crew AIRCRAFT 79-0311 from approx. 1987 to 1991. Then I was station at Eielson AFB, Alaska. From 1991 to 1994 Then I got station at Altus AFB, Oklahoma. There were no fighters HERE!!! What a difference! Night and Day. I went straight to working C-5A's OMG! Then I started working C-141B's. Those I really did come to enjoy working on. Then we got the C-17A. I am still working on the C-17A as CIVIL SERVICE. I really like the C-17A. But nothing will ever take the place of the "VIPER". I got to work the Block 1, 1A, 5, 10 and block 40 F-16's. I got so many stories to tell about all of them. The F-16 will always be in my blood. |
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My Jets & Assignments
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78004 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Tomahawks" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1979 - 1982 | |||||
| Current: | 78004 | 
USAF 310 TFTS
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F-16A Block 1 | [ w/o] | ||
| THERE WAS A GIRL NAMED ANN THAT WAS THE DCC ON THIS. AND I BELEIVE SHE WAS A COMM /NAV TROOP TOO! | ||||||
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Unit | 35th Fighter Squadron "Pantons" | [History] | |||
| Period | 1982 - 1983 | |||||
| 35 AMU | ||||||
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79311 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 311th Fighter Squadron "Sidewinders" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1983 - 1991 | |||||
| Current: |
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F-16A Block 10 | [ scr] | |||
| SHE ATE A HAWK ON TAKE-OFF AND PIECES OF THE MOTOR WENT DOWN I BELIEVE ACFT 78000005 INTAKE AND TORE UP BLADES ON THAT JET. THE PILOT GOT AN AWARD FOR SAVING THE JET. IT WAS AUGUST IN ARIZONA. CLEANING DEAD BIRD IN 100 DEG PLUS :(. BUT WOULDNT HAVE GIVEN THE JOB OF A DCC ON VIPER UP FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD! | ||||||
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90744 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 18th Aggressor Squadron "Blue Foxes" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1991 - 1994 | |||||
| Current: | 90744 |
USAF 16 WS
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F-16C Block 40 | [ act] | ||
| HAD A KICK ASS STANDBY GEN PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 63 DAYS. AND THE WHOLE TIME THE GD GUY WITHHELD DATA FROM US SO HE COULD JUSTIFY HIS BEING THERE. WE FOUND IT ANYWAY WITH OUT HIS BS. | ||||||
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C-5 Galaxy | |||||
| Unit | ||||||
| Period | 1994 - | |||||
| Altus AFB, Oklahoma DIDNT CREW THESE JETS BUT DID WORK IN ISO. WOW WHAT A DIFFERENT WORLD. GLAD I WAS ON FIGHTERS FIRST! | ||||||
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C-141 Starlifter | |||||
| Unit | 57th AIRLIFT SQUADRON | |||||
| Period | 1994 - | |||||
| CREWED AIRCRAFT 66000146. SHE WAS A NON SKE-BIRD. SHE FLEW so STRAIGHT- THE PILOTS WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME! SHE HAD 42,000 HOURS ON HER WHEN SHE WENT TO DM. GOOD JET. WON THE BEST PREFLIGHT AND KICKED BUTT ON THE REFUEL COMPETITION @ THE 1998 AIRLIFT "RODEO" | ||||||
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C-17 Globemaster | |||||
| Unit | ||||||
| Period | - | |||||
| THESE JETS ARE AWESOME! LOW LEVELS ARE GREAT! I GOT TO DO 2 HURRICANE EVACS. GETTING THOSE PEOPLE OUT WAS SOMETHING. IT MADE YOU REALLY THANKFUL THAT YOU GET DO DO THAT. VERY PROUD. ACFT 98000051 " AREA 51 " IS THE BEST C-17A THERE IS. | ||||||
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F-4 Phantom II | |||||
| Unit | ||||||
| Period | 1978 - | |||||
| DID WORK C AND D MODELS BRIEFLY @ HILL. WISH I COULD HAVE FLOWN IN ONE. | ||||||
Will Nash, MSgt (Ret),
Dec 17, 2008 - 07:47 PM
Hey Joni,
I'm pretty sure I remember you from Hill. There weren't many female CCs in the 16th in '79, maybe only one. I think I remember you and I and two or three others went for a below-the-zone slot and you got it. I was in the 311th also from '77 to '79. Just wound up my career with the Guard last year in Richmond as they were transitioning from F-16s to F-22s.
kkins,
Jan 06, 2009 - 03:55 AM
Hey it's Kevin we had some good times at the river bottom at Luke and some good times at Eielson let me know how you are doing take care.
phantom411,
Dec 11, 2010 - 02:20 AM
Hey Joni, how ya been? Good times crewing the 16's at Luke. I hope all is well with you.
wash,
Aug 20, 2011 - 06:35 AM
OMG Joni, i remember you. You were my DCC back in the early days. Wow i often wondered what happened to you. LOL I just retired from langley this year. Finished up on Eagles. Yes those were the good ole days.
djsamp,
Aug 24, 2014 - 02:18 AM
Wow, hi Joni, it's only been about 25 years. Hope all is well. I miss keeping up with the old Like gang!
Joni Kelsey,
Apr 16, 2016 - 05:55 AM
I wanted to add that I was the 2015 Marjorie and Katherine Stinson Award recipient 2 amazing female aviators! And I was possibly the first maintainer to win this.
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