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F-16 Fighting Falcon News

Hill will lose 24 F-16s

March 8, 2010 (by Asif Shamim) - According to the Standard-Examiner. The 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base will deactivate this coming summer. Plans are in progress to reduce Hills fleet of F-16s from 72 to 48 aircraft.

USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2149 from the 34th FS is departing from Nellis AFB to fight some agressors in the Desert MOA on April 30th, 2009. [Photo by Kris]

On Monday, Hill officials said the changes are official and likely would happen soon.

"The planes are definitely going by the summer," said base spokesman Rich Essary. "But to say exactly when it will happen, or to give an exact date, we don't know that yet."

The USAF's force realignment plan for fiscal year 2010 will see Hill Air Force Base lossing a third of its force of F-16s. The jets that are being lost are coming from the 388th Fighter Wing's, 34th Fighter squadron which will close up shop and deactivate.

According to Col. David Hathaway, vice commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, said plans are being developed.

"It's still too early to discuss the full implementation of the plan, because specific locations in the plan are still being coordinated," he said. "However, we would expect the jets leaving Hill to be relocated across the Air Force during this fiscal year."

Hill Air Force Base is hoping to become one of the main bases for the F-35. Last October the USAF said the base was one of the six finalists who will at least house one, with possibility of three active duty squadron of F-35s. Each squadron is expected to consist of 24 aircraft.

Air Force officials say the restructuring plan will net the Department of Defense a cost savings of $355 million in fiscal year 2010 and $3.5 billion over the next five fiscal years. The restructuring plan will see the accelerated retirement of nearly 250 of the USAF's oldest aircraft including 112 F-15s, 134 F-16s and three A-10s nationwide.


Additional images:

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0429 from the 34th FS is departing Nellis AFB during Red Flag 08-3 on July 30th, 2008. [Photo by Jason Hyatt]