Post BRAC F-16 inventory

Andrew_Schulman · by **Andrew_Schulman** » 19 May 2005, 19:42

I'm trying to figure out the remaining F-16 active, reserve, and guard inventory following the BRAC recommendations.

The raw data is out there, but I can't find a summary number that shows the available assets remaining.

Has anyone done this math and can you share?

ajs

VPRGUY · by **VPRGUY** » 19 May 2005, 19:56

Not to be a smart-a$$, but the inventory is exactly the same as it was before the BRAC recommendations

It isn't until after the actual processes go through that the inventory will change.

Andrew_Schulman · by **Andrew_Schulman** » 19 May 2005, 20:01

Negative - They are RETIRING many birds, and putting others into STORAGE for BACKUP.

So...what's left for putting lead on target?

Andrew_Schulman · by **Andrew_Schulman** » 19 May 2005, 20:02

Assuming of course all of the recommendations are accepted by the commission...

VPRGUY · by **VPRGUY** » 19 May 2005, 20:10

THATS what I was getting at

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 19 May 2005, 20:58

For calculations, please have a look at the overview we made in the article <a href="f-16_news_article1369.html">USAF BRAC plans to retire 178 F-16s - 15 bases affected</a>.

f16cctul · by **f16cctul** » 23 May 2005, 05:51

It would be nice to designate some of the more useful of the retiring airframes to be permanently deployed to the middle eastern region. I say region because I think some of those countries will call them their own if they stay in one place too long. The constant rotation of units for the past decade or so has cost us a ton of money, not to mention some high pucker factor going over the pond. Just move the people to the aircraft. I hate to see a good airplane die a slow death at DM. Besides, right now we are in a clean-up/insurgent hunting mission. This type of aircraft is perfect for this. Use the more advanced airframes to deter any other potential enemies.

swanee · by **swanee** » 23 May 2005, 07:35

Andrew_Schulman wrote:Negative - They are RETIRING many birds, and putting others into STORAGE for BACKUP.

So...what's left for putting lead on target?

They are retiring a lot of the old stuff, and putting some back on Wartime reserve and Attrition Reserve. (since we have none on either, as in we are out of F-16s)
This comes at the cost of the units that are losing their airplanes.

We will still have some 500 Airplanes left on active status, but not 700 and some...

swanee · by **swanee** » 23 May 2005, 07:43

f16cctul wrote:It would be nice to designate some of the more useful of the retiring airframes to be permanently deployed to the middle eastern region. I say region because I think some of those countries will call them their own if they stay in one place too long. The constant rotation of units for the past decade or so has cost us a ton of money, not to mention some high pucker factor going over the pond. Just move the people to the aircraft. I hate to see a good airplane die a slow death at DM. Besides, right now we are in a clean-up/insurgent hunting mission. This type of aircraft is perfect for this. Use the more advanced airframes to deter any other potential enemies.

The problem with this is that their airframes are maxed out and the airplanes are falling apart. Sure, its a good airplane, but it's too much work to keep them flying. I would love to own a 1971 mach 1 mustang, but I know that they require much more work than my 1998 Jeep grand cherokee. The A-10 world is much worse than the F-16 world. The old stuff just breaks more and isn't as reliable as the new stuff. Hell, I know of a couple of stories of some of the block 25s not being able to be flown at 100% because of airframe troubles. It was a case of, well, its gonna break here, and theres really nothing we can do about it, so, don't pull too hard and be gentle on the landing... we can't have an airforce with airplanes like that.

f16cctul · by **f16cctul** » 23 May 2005, 08:58

I agree the block 15ADF's and block 25's have reached their useful life limit. My issue is with retiring block 42 airframes. I am sure the most troublesome aircraft will go but many of these still have life left in them.

The blocks 30's I crew have over 4000 hours on them and they are staying active. It could be the cost to strap the -229 engine to the 42's to replace the old dogs. Even that might be more cost effective in the loooooong run. But, I'm not a bean counter. I'm just a tax payer and a concerned crew chief. It's like trying to decide whether to put an old dog to sleep that you had grown up with. I started on this jet shortly after they came into the inventory so I grew up with it.

My first jet is on a stick at Lackland (<a href="f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-107.html">78-0107</a>).