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Pakistani F-16s join Edwards' test forces
January 16, 2003 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
Edwards' Test Operations is home to two additional F-16 Falcons slated to become an integral part of supporting flight test programs around the base. The two are the first of nine Falcons making their way to Edwards this year.
Capt. Kevin Roethe of Test Ops and Maj. Jim Less of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School flew the aircraft to Edwards from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 8.
The arriving aircraft were originally part of a deal U.S. officials brokered with the Pakistani prime minister to sell 28 F-16s to that government. The agreement broke down after Pakistan ignored the nuclear non-proliferation policy of the U.S. government and its allies, canceling military foreign sales to that country.
That left the aircraft in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB for more than a decade. After several years of modifications and rebuilding, the aircraft made their way to Edwards.
The aircraft are late A and B models, versus the C and D models pilots routinely fly today. They were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s and are scheduled to replace some of the older F-16s in the Edwards' inventory and will provide pilots with better capability and reliability, said Lt. Col. Troy Fontaine, commander of Test Operations at Edwards.
With only eight and 11 total flying hours, the two aircraft will be used for support operations in Test Operation's 412th MXG Shadow Fleet. The aircraft will perform photo chase, high-alpha testing and test support missions for Edwards' various test forces. The jets will also be used to train students at the Test Pilot School.
Capt. Kevin Roethe of Test Ops and Maj. Jim Less of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School flew the aircraft to Edwards from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 8.
That left the aircraft in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB for more than a decade. After several years of modifications and rebuilding, the aircraft made their way to Edwards.
The aircraft are late A and B models, versus the C and D models pilots routinely fly today. They were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s and are scheduled to replace some of the older F-16s in the Edwards' inventory and will provide pilots with better capability and reliability, said Lt. Col. Troy Fontaine, commander of Test Operations at Edwards.
With only eight and 11 total flying hours, the two aircraft will be used for support operations in Test Operation's 412th MXG Shadow Fleet. The aircraft will perform photo chase, high-alpha testing and test support missions for Edwards' various test forces. The jets will also be used to train students at the Test Pilot School.
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