Community

Viper Driver Flying Hours

  Col. James A. "Viking" Kelley (Ret.)

Sierra Hotel main menu | Submit your flying hours

Viper Driver

Name Col. James A. "Viking" Kelley (Ret.)
Country
Unit 178th Fighter Squadron "Happy Hooligans"
Flying F-16s from 1986 until 2002
Viper Hours 2599
Flew F-16s non-stop for 17 years - 1985 - 2002. Then transferred to the F-16 System Program Office (SPO) at AMC's Ogden Air Logistic Center (ALC). Began flying for Delta Airlines. Performed tours with 1st Air Force and NORAD/NORTHCOM. Finished his career as the Mobilization Assistant (MA) to the Ogden ALC, serving as the acting Center Vice Commander. Retired in 2010.

F-16 Student Pilot, 63rd TFTS, MacDill AFB.
F-16 Pilot, 421 FS, Hill AFB
F-16 Instructor Pilot, 311th and 314th TFTS, Luke AFB
F-16 Instructor/Evaluator, 119 FW, North Dakota ANG

Memorable F-16 Aircraft

F-16 # 82935 [Detailed history of this F-16]
In 1986 as a new Lieutenant at the 421 Fighter Squadron, like all other new arrivals, I was initially assigned F-16 82-1036, the B model. My name stayed on the canopy until our next new pilot showed up. In 2002, 16 years later, my fini flight in the F-16 at the 119 FW was in the same aircraft, now modified to the Air Defense mission. Back in the 421st FS, I was eventually assigned 82-935, which I held until my transfer to Luke.

Deployments

Noble Eagle, Coronet Nighthawk,.Red Flag, Maple Flag, WSEP, Blue Horizon

F-16 Flying Hours

2,000 Hours # 324 on the 2K list
Unit   178th Fighter Squadron "Happy Hooligans" [Unit History]
Date 11 March 1998
Comment 1.5 hour Air-to-Air sortie with the ANG Air Defense unit.
1,000 Hours # 1016 on the 1K list
Unit   314th Fighter Squadron "Warhawks" [Unit History]
Date 9 September 1991
Comment 1.3 Hour Surface Attack Student Support Sortie. The next flight was my Fini-flight from Luke as I transferred to the ANG.

Flying Hours on other aircraft

Visitor Comments






Note: Errors and omissions in the above text can be added here. Please note: your comments will be displayed immediately on this page.

If you wish to send a private comment to the webmasters, please use the Contact Us link.