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  MSgt. Robert " Tip" Tipton (Ret.)

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USAF-AFMC-39-FLTS
 Name MSgt. Robert Tipton (Ret.)
Country
Unit 39th Flight Test Squadron
Crewing F-16s from 1991 until 2013
Contact robtipton Send me a private message
Website
Started crewing F-16s in Misawa, Japan with the 13th AMU. Since then, I've worked crash/recovery at Holloman on the F-117, Phase Dock at Osan, crewed F-16s again from 1998-2003 at Eglin with the 39th and 40th FTS. Went to go teach at Aviano as an F-16 FTD Instructor. My final assignment was at Elmendorf working 3 AMXS Squadron Staff for the two F-22 AMUs.

My Jets & Assignments

USAF F-16C block 30 #85-1498 from the 107th FS is operated from Incirlik AB on February 16th, 2003 during operation Northern Watch just prior to the start of operation Iraqi Freedom. [USAF photo by SSgt. Jason Gamble]
 		85498 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 13th Fighter Squadron "Panthers" [Unit History]
Period 1991 - 1994
Current: 85498   USAF AMARC F-16C Block 30 [ sto]
I was the ADCC of this jet with J.J.Jones. Loved this bird. J.J. and I got our incentive flights when this 'ol gal won the 5-Star award in 1992.
USAF F-16B block 5 #78-0102 from the 160th TFS is parked on the tarmac at Dannelly Field in April of 1989. Note the alternate camo design in front of the cockpit and on the nose. [Er-Ning Chang collection]
 		78102 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 39th Flight Test Squadron [Unit History]
Period 1998 - 1999
Current: 78102   F-16B Block 5 [ i/a]
This was the first F-16 that I was ever the DCC on. My ADCC was Mike Roberts, and we named this one Mrs. Robinson. Mikey is the finest F-16 crew chief I've ever known, and could field-strip an F-16 blindfolded!
USAF F-16C block 42 #88-0469 of the 39th FTS waiting for another test mission. [Photo by Frank Ertl]
 		88469 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 39th Flight Test Squadron [Unit History]
Period 1999 - 2001
Current: 88469   USAF 152 FS F-16C Block 42 [ act]
Loved this bird! She had a history shrouded in mystery--several years unaccounted for out in the "black world."
USAF F-16C block 50 #98-0004 from the 85th TES is visiting Hill AFB on June 24th, 2006 armed with a Sniper pod and JDAM bomb. [Photo by Duane Kaiser]
 		98004 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 40th Flight Test Squadron [Unit History]
Period 2001 - 2001
Current: 98004   USAF 85 TES F-16C Block 50 [ act]
The first block 50 MMC F-16 we got on the ET side at Eglin.
USAF F-16A block 15 #80-0609 belonging to the 39th FTS is parked on the Eglin AFB ramp before a test mission. [Photo by Mike Kopack]
 		80609 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 40th Flight Test Squadron [Unit History]
Period 2001 - 2003
Current: 80609   F-16A Block 15 [ i/a]
This was the "Wing King's" F-16. I crewed this with my ADCC, Dan Rodriguez--a fine assistant who I hand-picked for the job.
USAF-PACAF-36-FS
 Unit 36th Fighter Squadron "Flying Fiends" [History]
Period 1997 - 1998
Worked Phase Dock while at Osan.
Unit FTD Instructor
Period 2003 - 2008
Loved this job!
This F-22A Raptor #03-4058 from the 27th FS at Langley AFB fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile at an aerial target drone over the Gulf of Mexico during a Combat Archer mission February 14. 2006. This missile is one of the first fired from an F-22A Raptor. [USAF Photo by Master Sgt. Michael Ammons]
 F-22 Raptor
Unit 3 AMXS
Period 2008 - 2011
Squadron Staff
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- An F-117 Nighthawk flies over the Nevada desert. The unique design of the single-seat F-117 provides exceptional combat capabilities. The fighter can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the Nighthawk. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron D. Allmon II)
 F-117 Nighthawk
Unit 49th MXS
Period 1994 - 1997
Worked A/R and Crash/Recovery here.
Other aircraft/assignments F-117s at Holloman AFB, NM
F-16 FTD Instructor at Aviano AB, Italy
F-22 Squadron Staff
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