Tag Archives: f-16

Idaho

Idaho trades one Cold-War aircraft for another Cold-War aircraft, is it progress or politics?

Image

27 December 2023 (03:13-UTC-07 Tango 06) 06 Dey 1402/14 Jumada t-Tania 1445/15 Jia-Zi 4721/27 Декабрь 2023 года

A-10C on Gowen Field, Boise Airport, Idaho, 20DEC2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Both the A-10 Thunderbolt-2 and the F-16 Falcon were developed during the same decade; the 1970s.

A-10A Thunderbolts fly over the Pacific Ocean, 14JUN1977. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph F. Smith.

In July of this year, the Idaho Air National Guard revealed that the U.S. Air Force is forcing them to replace their A-10Cs with F-16s, starting in 2027.

A-10C on Gowen Field, Boise Airport, Idaho, 20DEC2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

The A-10A (first flight May 1972) was the result of U.S. Air Force experience with ground attack missions over Viet Nam.

An F-16A belonging to Hill AFB, Utah, flies over Nellis AFB, Nevada, December 1979. USAF photo by Ken Hackman.

The F-16A (first flight in 1976) was developed as a replacement for the F-5E Tiger-2 (itself a replacement for the F-5A Freedom Fighter, designed to be a low cost aircraft for countries who did not have the money to buy the big combat planes, and was subsidized by U.S. taxpayers through the MAP [Military Assistance Program]).

The first USAF unit deployment of F-16s to Europe involved Falcons from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in 1981. They were sent to Flesland Air Station, in NATO-Norway. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Don Sutherland, 01MAR1981.

The division between those in the USAF who liked the A-10 and those who liked the F-16 began during the development of the prototypes, in the 1970s. My father worked at Edwards Air Force Base, California, during that time, and was one of the pro-F-16’ers.  Edwards AFB is where both aircraft were originally developed. My father would come home from work stating that he hoped something bad happened to the A-10, so that the USAF would choose the F-16.  What people (including my father) didn’t seem to understand is that both aircraft were the result of combat experiences over Viet Nam, and were intentionally designed for specific missions, which is why at that time the USAF wanted both aircraft.

A-10C on Gowen Field, Boise Airport, Idaho, 20DEC2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Both aircraft have been upgraded over the decades, yet ever since the Obama regime was in power the U.S. Air Force has pushed to replace the decades old A-10 with the decades old F-16.

A-10C on Gowen Field, Boise Airport, Idaho, 20DEC2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Gowen Field Air Show, 27AUG2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Idaho A-10C on Lechfeld Air Base, Germany, 06JUN2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Idaho A-10C over Southwestern Idaho, 15MAR2023. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Air & Space Forces Magazine, April 2023: USAF retires first of 21 A-10Cs, in 2023! 

Defense Update, May 2017: USAF suddenly reverses plan to retire the A-10C.

U.S. Government Accountability Office, August 2015: USAF needs to provide better information to justify retirement of A-10 and other aircraft.

Stars and Stripes, June 2015: Government Accountability Office questions USAF’s justifications for retiring the A-10C.

Congressional Research Service, January 2015: PDF providing background information on retirement of A-10C.

Washington Times, November 2014: A-10C retirement on hold after proposed replacement aircraft ‘frags’ five U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan! 

PBS, May 2014: USAF accused of doctoring data to justify retirement of A-10C.

Arizona Daily Star, March 2014: Retiring the Air Force’s A-10C is a mistake.

Blind Bat News archives;

March 2023: NATO-GERMANY INVADES IDAHO?

October 2022: 4TH TIME IS THE CHARM, IDAHO ‘HAWGSMOKES’ THE COMPETITION, AGAIN!

July 2021: IDAHO’S HERITAGE A-10C ‘8N’.

March 2021: COVID MORALE BOOSTER A-10C GUN-RUN IN IDAHO!

2019: THE OWL HAD A BLUE UMBRELLA! HOW LANTIRN KILLED THE N/AW-10, AND, WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE TRUMPETER/HOBBY BOSS KITS?

2016: NATO-TURKEY DEPLOYMENT REVEALS IDAHO A-10Cs ARE A BUNCH OF DIRTY PIGS!

IDAHO SHOWS A-10C PRIDE WITH CITY NOSE ART.

2015: OBAMA SECRETLY DEPLOYS A-10Cs EVEN THOUGH HE WANTS TO GET RID OF THEM!

May 2014: PROOF THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT WAS TO REMAIN A USAF MAINSTAY UNTIL 2040; TAXPAYERS SPENT MORE THAN $2-BILLION ON UPGRADES!

March 2014: OBAMA REGIME TO STEAL ALL OF IDAHO AIR NATIONAL GUARD’S AIR ASSETS?!

International, U.S.

Forever Wars: NATO greatly increases taxpayer funding, expands global ammo supply, forms ‘Birds Coalition’ with Ukraine!

Video

NATO=North Atlantic Treaty Organization, “…was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War.   …countering the threat posed at the time by the Soviet Union.” The Soviet Union ceased to exist on 25DEC1991, yet it seems NATO is still fighting that war.

“The biggest thing that has happened in the world in my life, in our lives, is this: By the grace of God, America won the Cold War.”-George H. W. Bush, President of the United States, 1992 State of the Union Address

Joint statements by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin the Third, in which it is revealed that taxpayer funding for NATO is being greatly increased; the original 2% maximum of GDP funding is now considered “a minimum” for defense spending. NATO video released 15JUN2023:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says “All allies stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Oleksii Reznikov, reveals formation of ‘Birds Coalition’ to begin training on F-16 Falcon aircraft in Netherlands and Denmark, as well as yet-to-be specified ‘testing’ with Sweden. NATO video released on 15JUN2023:

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, praises the expansion of NATO’s Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative (MAWI). It is not just about the war with Russia, but the fact that NATO is rapidly expanding its operation around the world. NATO video released 15JUN2023:

World War Three, 13JUN2023: THE ONLY GLOBAL MILITARY ALLIANCE (NATO) SAYS THE WAR WITH RUSSIA IS IN “BEGINNING STAGES”!

Forever Wars:

U.S.

Forever Wars: National Guard Drug & Border Deployments! Cyber War! Deployments destroying Families!

Video

Incomplete list of video reports, and links to news reports, of recent state National Guard developments, as of 26MAY2023:

More proof never ending deployments are having a negative effect on U.S. families:

ARKANSAS:

Arkansas Army National Guard Photo by Sergeant Maddie Fortune, 12MAY2023.

The Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion-153d Infantry Regiment, prepped for their deployment to the Middle East/Operation Spartan Shield!

National Guard video (by Sergeant Madeline Fortune) of Arkansas and Missouri Guard personnel learning how to use the Javelin for their deployment:

CALIFORNIA: National Guard deployed to San Francisco, as the drug crisis explodes in ‘The Golden City’!

FLORIDA: 8-hundred National Guard personnel deploying alongside police, to Texas!

ILLINOIS:

Illinois Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Trenton Fouche, 04MAY2023.

From 02-06MAY2023, the 6/54th Security Force Assistance Brigade conducted ‘pre-mobilization’ training.

IOWA:

U.S. Army photo by Master Sergeant Daniel Griego, 24MAY2023.

The Air National Guard’s 132nd Medical Group took part in medical training in the Gjakova District of Kosovo, 24MAY2023.

LOUISIANA: 773rd Military Police Battalion deploying to NATO-Europe!

MICHIGAN:

Michigan Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Patrick Mayabb, 13MAY2023.

Bravo Battery-1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, practiced loading their HIMARS onto a C-17, while deployed to NATO-Estonia, 13MAY2023.

MINNESOTA: The Army National Guard’s 147th Human Resources Company is deploying to the Middle East!

MISSIOURI: Charlie Company-1st Battalion-138th Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, deploying to the Middle East for Operation Spartan Shield!

NEW JERSEY:

New Jersey Army National Guard photo by Specialist Michael Schwenk, 21MAY2023.

On 21MAY2023, Army National Guard personnel boarded busses for Fort Polk, Louisiana, to take part in a massive ‘large scale combat operations in a multi-domain setting against a near-peer opposing force’ wargame.  The more than 5-thousand National Guard personnel wargame will also include militia personnel from Puerto Rico!

New York Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Madden, 06MAY2023.

New York and Massachusetts National Guard units conducted combat rescue Operation Jawbreaker training on Warren Grove Range, in New Jersey, 05-07MAY2023: “These Special Forces units can greatly enhance our warfighting and ground base defense capabilities so that we are able to better prepare for near-peer adversaries.”-First Lieutenant Al Romano

NEW YORK:

New York Army National Guard photo by Specialist Jean Sanon.

160 Army National Guard Military Police said goodbye to their friends and family during a deployment ceremony at Monroe Community College on 16MAY2023.  They are deploying for the next year to NATO-Poland, but first stop is Fort Bliss, Texas, for additional training.

U.S. Army photo by Private Zachary Brown, 02MAY2023.

Rhode Island Army National Guard practiced loading their vehicles onto Rhode Island Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules, while on Fort Drum in New York, 02MAY2023.

NORTH CAROLINA: National Guard trains for cyber warfare, Operation Tobacco Road.

OHIO:

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Sarah Stalder Lundgren, 05MAY2023.

Air National Guard F-16 Falcons took part in a large-scale readiness exercise, in Swanton, 05MAY2023.

OKLAHOMA: National Guardsman arrested in Texas!

TENNESSEE: 1-hundred militia personnel deploying to Texas!

Also, 150 Army National Guard personnel (251st Military Police Company) deployed to NATO-Europe!

TEXAS:  450 militia personnel deploy along the border with Mexico!

Operation Lone Star:

WASHINGTON: On 24MAY2023, it was revealed that 5-hundred National Guard personnel will take part in Hanuman Guardian 23, in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Washington National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon, 10MAY2023.

On 10-11MAY2023, the Washington and Montana National Guards spent the weekend conducting FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Region 10 training to integrate guard units with federal and local civilian emergency response personnel, for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters.  The training included load-up of a C-130J Super Hercules: “This is a true joint-training event between the Washington and Montana National Guard and active duty. This was also the first time we practiced loading onto a C-130J airframe.”-Senior Master Sergeant Adam Brunneman

Washington Army National Guard photo by Private First Class Abigail Clark, 07MAY2023.

Washington Army National Guard’s Field Support teams 1556 and 1567 deploying to U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) and Central Command (CentCom) areas of responsibility.

Washington Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon, 30APR2023.

At the end of April, the Washington National Guard began prepping for the 2023 wildfire season.

Washington DC:

Washington DC National Guard photo by Senior Airman Natalie Filzen, 21APR2023.

DC Air National Guard personnel prepare for possible deployment from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, 21APR2023.

Forever Wars: U.S. STATE MILITIAS IN CRISIS? STAFFING SHORTAGES, INCREASED DEPLOYMENTS, AND WOKE FOLK!

Denton Program Failure: USAID GAVE GUATEMALA NUCLEAR ‘SOURCES’?

Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: USAF sends 27 Block-25 Falcons to the Boneyard!

Video

“It’s a little surreal, to be honest with you. I can remember as a lieutenant growing up, flying with a lot of guys in F-4s and watching that historic change from F-4s to F-16s. And here I am, 20 years later, watching an F-16 I’ve flown be retired. I’ve gone full circle, and it’s bittersweet. But it’s an awesome opportunity to be the last commander to fly this jet.”-Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Eldredge, 309th Fighter Squadron

On 07SEP2022, the last of 27 F-16C ‘Block 25’ Falcons was flown from Luke Air Force Base, in Arizona, to The Boneyard. The retirement ceremony was held on 06SEP2022.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 07SEP2022.

The 309th Fighter Squadron (FS) ‘Wild Ducks’ had been flying Block 25 F-16C/Ds for 28 years.  The 309th FS has an interesting history, going back to World War Two, in that it has been based at various locations around the world and around the United States, and repeatedly in-activated and re-activated.  The last time it was in-activated was in 1993, after the non-official, non-declared Cold War ended, yet was re-activated the very next year, in 1994.  It also experienced a period of being officially “unmanned”, from May 2014 to July 2014.

USAF photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 07SEP2022.

Pilots, ground crew and honorary members of the 309th FS signed their names to the last Block-25 F-16C.

309th FS F-16Cs fly alongside F-35A Lightning-2s from the 63rd FS, 11NOV2017. USAF photo by Senior Airman James Hensley.

The 309th FS still uses the newer Block 42 ‘Night’ Falcons, but perhaps will eventually get the outrageously expensive, and long overdue, F-35A Lightning-2.

Airman First Class Keilani Durfey shakes the hand of the pilot who gets to take the final flight the 309th’s last F-16C, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Eldredge. USAF photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 07SEP2022.

The Boneyard is part of Davis-Monthan AFB, also in Arizona, it is considered to be the largest military aircraft graveyard in the world.

How long will those signatures last in the Arizona Sun? USAF photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 07SEP2022.

The F-16 Falcon first flew in 1974, the first F-16’A’ in 1976, the first F-16’Cs’ began with production Block 25, in 1984. The first Block 42 Night Falcons appeared in 1988, so the 309th FS is still flying a Cold War era aircraft.

An F-16C of the Wild Ducks 309th FS, 12JUL2019. USAF photo by Airman First Class Aspen Reid.

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

309th FS F-16C, 14AUG2018. USAF photo by Airman First Class Zoie Rider.

USAF video by Senior Airman BreeAnn Sachs, showing 309th FS F-16C/Ds (Block 25 & 42) operating from Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 05AUG2016:

In the Cold War 1980s the Wild Ducks were known as the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), with a different tail code due to being based on Homestead AFB, Florida.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Nancy Smelser, 19DEC1986.

The first of the original F-16Bs to hit 1-million flight hours belonged to the 309th TFS, in 1986.

 

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: EC-130H COMPASS CALL MAKES ITS LAST CALL?

Technology

Ukraine Crisis: Slovakia suddenly retires the Fulcrum, at NATO’s behest

Video

MiG-29, NATO reporting name Fulcrum.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, August 2022.

Towards the end of August 2022, Slovak MiG-29s made their final military flights during the Slovak International Air Fest over Malacky-Kuchyňa Air Base.  Although they had been recently upgraded with NATO standard equipment, and were expected to be in use until 2035, the Ukraine Crisis resulted in the sudden/hasty retirement of the MiG 29s.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, August 2022.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, August 2022.

A recent U.S./NATO sponsored air defense agreement between Czech Republic (now known by the wimpy name of Czechia), Poland and Republic of Slovakia, will have Slovak air space defended by Czechia’s Swedish made JAS-39 Gripens and Poland’s U.S. made F-16s, until Slovakia is equipped with U.S. made F-16s (in 2018 Slovakia agreed to buy 14 F-16 Block 70/72 from NATO-United States).

Military personnel of Slovakia and the United States pose in front of a Cold War MiG 29 ‘Gate Guard’ on Sliač Air Base, Slovakia, 28JUL2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Savannah L. Waters.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

For more proof that the MiG 29 was to be in use for at least another decade, in November 2018 the Slovak government decided to continue operating the MiG 29 until all the expected F-16 Block 70/72s were delivered.  But now, Slovkia’s eleven recently NATO upgraded MiG-29s are just hanging around, waiting for so-called NATO guidance on their fate.

MiG-29UB trainer. Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

It should be realized that the Czech-o-Slovakia was an artificial country created by the British empire led victors of World War One.  During the lead-up to World War Two, Germany became the so called protectorate of the area of Czechia, while an independent Slovak State was declared.  After that war, the victorious Soviet Union forced the two back together as the Czech-o-Slovakia.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

After the unofficial Cold War unofficially ended, former Warsaw Pact member Czech-o-Slovakia split up, into the Czech Republic and Republic of Slovakia.  Slovakia took 24 MiG-29s as part of the divorce from Czechia and as part of payment of debt owed by the former Soviet Union.

Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

In the past few years, Slovakia embarked on a program to convert its military to NATO standards, one of those actions included sending four fighter pilots to the United States to train on F-16 Falcons, in 2020.

Slovak MiG 29 flies with two Indiana Air Guard ‘BlackSnakes’ A-10C Thunderbolt-2s, 27JUL2016.
Indiana Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sergeant William Hopper.

A Slovak MiG 29 flies alongside a Czech JAS 39. Photo via Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.

Nebraska Air National Guard video, September 2013; a Nebraska Air Guard KC-135 refuels a Czech JAS 39 Gripen over Slovakia, while a Slovak MiG 29 Fulcrum plays the bad guy and ‘intercepts’ the ‘invaders’:

Tiger Meet Mig 29UB. Photo via Ministerstvo obrany Slovenskej republiky, (Mo Sr).

Photo via Ministerstvo obrany Slovenskej republiky, (Mo Sr).

23mm gun-smoke. Photo via Ministerstvo obrany Slovenskej republiky, (Mo Sr).

2008 Ministerstvo obrany Slovenskej republiky (Mo Sr) video, pilot talks about flying the MiG 29:

Soviet era Aircraft used by NATO:  POLAND SUKHOI 22

MiG-21

Soviet era Weapons in use by NATO: Czech-o-Slovakia’s DANA

Indian Air Power:

….including the MiG 29 

Kit Bashing, Technology

Ohio Air Militia entices little children with their baby F-16, kawaii!

Image

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Kuhn, 19AUG2017.

In August 2017, the Ohio Air National Guard showed up at the Columbus Clippers’ Aviation Game Day event, with a baby F-16 Falcon.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Kuhn, 19AUG2017.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Kuhn, 19AUG2017.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Kuhn, 19AUG2017.

In May 2015, the Ohio Air Militia also ‘flew’ their baby F-16 in the Memorial Day parade in Springfield.

Ohio Air National Guard photo, 25MAY2015.

Oh course, it had to be ‘bombed-up’ for the solemn occasion (Memorial Day is a solemn holiday about military personnel who got killed, don’t know why the main stream news media always refers to it as a celebration).

Ohio Air National Guard photo, 25MAY2015.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Airman Rachel Simones, 25MAY2015.

But the baby F-16 also made an appearance in South Carolina, in July 2012, when it was ‘flying’ out of Shaw Air Force Base for the U.S. Air Force.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Keim, 04JUL2012.

Kawaii:  NORTH CAROLINA’S BABY C-130 GOBBLES-UP YOUR CHILDREN!

USAF WINS FEMALE RECRUITS WITH BABY C-17!

Kit Bashing

Everything old is new again…and still F-16 Gold

Video

Iowa Air National Guard photo, published in May 1996.

In 1996, Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Fighter Wing celebrated 50 years by painting an F-16 gold.

Iowa Air National Guard photo, published in May 1996.

Notice that the fake-news wingtip mounted Sidewinders are gloss black with gold fins.  According to 185th FW historians, the proposal to paint an F-16 gold was rejected at first, using the ridiculous excuse that painting a fighter gold would somehow render it non-combat ready!

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

Fast forward 26 years and there is a new/old gold F-16 in ‘Siouxland’.

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

From mid-May through June 2022, the Iowa Air National Guard painted another F-16 gold, in honor of the first gold F-16.

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 18MAY2022.

This time the F-16 is not a working fighter, it has just been pulling gate guard duty for the past 20 years, on Sioux City Air National Guard Base, and needed a refreshing.

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

Iowa Air National Guard video, by Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, reveal of new gold F-16 on 30JUN2022:

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

Iowa Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 30JUN2022.

Between 2001 and 2003, Iowa’s 185th Fighter Wing transitioned an Air Refueling Wing, flying the KC-135:   BATS & BEARS, OH MY!

 

F-16 & F-15: 

SPECIAL LAS VEGAS SHOOTING EDITION

Kit Bashing

Vehicle I-D: Arizona F-16 with an 80 years old P-47 paint job?

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 09JAN2022.

Actually, a Cold War era F-16 on Luke Air Force Base, in Arizona, got dolled-up for the 310th Fighter Squadron’s 80th Anniversary.

USAF photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 13JAN2022.

The pain scheme is based on a World War Two P-47 Thunderbolt named Passionate Patsy.

USAF photo by Senior Airman David Busby, 19JAN2022.

U.S. Air Force music video, by Senior Airman David Busby, of the colorful efforts by 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron:

Bare Metal:

USAF photo by Alex R. Lloyd.

NEW ‘PATINA’ STYLE F-16 CAMO?

Terminator: NEW F-16/X-62 SKYBORG

Kit Bashing

New clothes for a Texas F-16

Image

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Jeremy Roman, 05NOV2020.

The 301st Fighter Wing, 457th Fighter Squadron, U.S. Air Force Reserve celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2019, yet only now has dolled-up one of its F-16Cs for the occasion.

USAF photos by Master Sergeant Jeremy Roman, 05NOV2020.

According to USAF reports the painting was delayed (official reason not made public so far), but the aircraft was finally unveiled at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, 05NOV2020.

USAF photos by Master Sergeant Jeremy Roman, 05NOV2020.

USAF photos by Master Sergeant Jeremy Roman, 05NOV2020.

Here’s some pics of the Texas Air National Guard 149th Fighter Wing F-16s.

Texas Air Guard F-16 in Chile, 14OCT2014. Texas Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Miguel Arellano.

Texas Air National Guard F-16 in Wisconsin, 16APR2013. Texas Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Miguel Arellano.

The aircraft is based at Joint Base San Antonio.  Here’s some pics from September 2011:

Photos by Staff Sergeant Phil Fountain.

Vehicle I-D: NEW F-16 WRAITH! NIGHT FIGHTER WW-2 STYLE!

Kit Bashing

Vehicle I-D: New F-16 Wraith! Night Fighter WW-2 style!

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Miranda A. Loera, 28OCT2019.

On 28OCT2019 the 64th Aggressor Squadron (Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada) revealed their new ‘Wraith’ paint-job for the F-16.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 16NOV2019.

The paint scheme resembles the late World War Two/Korean conflict U.S. night fighter paint-job; black with red markings.  However, in WW-2/Korea the black was glossy as U.S. Army Air Force studies revealed that amazingly glossy black actually was harder to see from the ground with search lights, than a flat/matte (‘nonspecular’ as it was called back then) black.  The new F-16 Wraith uses flat black.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 16NOV2019.

https://www.facebook.com/NellisAFB/videos/3030768496950918/?t=0

The commander of the 57th Wing crowdsourced the new livery to be applied to the 64th Aggressor Squadron’s F-16C.    But it’s not the first time an F-16 was painted black (New Black And Red Aggressor Paint Job).

USAF photo by Senior Airman Dylan Murakami, 08MAR2021.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Alexandre Montes, 17MAR2021.

NEW F-16 DIGITAL GHOST?

‘NEW’ F-16 VISTA