Eleven Fighters To Receive Block 52 Upgrades, Smoke Systems
Instead Of Guns
Officials at Hill Air Force Base in Utah rolled out the first of
11 specially-configured F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Air Force
Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.
During a ceremonial hand over October 24 -- attended by incoming
2008-2009 Thunderbirds commander and lead pilot Lt. Col. Greg
Thomas, and a full house of media, military and civilian spectators
-- Ogden Air Logistics Center officials presented the first
converted jet to the aerial demonstration team.
Each aircraft will receive a Block 52 upgrade, which includes
the Falcon Structural Augmentation Roadmap program, also known as
Falcon STAR. The program replaces or repairs the known
life-limited structures. This avoids the onset of widespread
fatigue damage in order to maintain flight safety, enhance aircraft
availability and extend the life of affected components.
Additionally, the 309th Maintenance Wing along with the 508th
Aerospace Sustainment Wing, both under the Ogden ALC, are
partnering to remove the weapons system from each aircraft and
replace it with a smoke-generating system. Each aircraft gets a new
red, white and blue paint job too.
"If these aircraft were needed in a combat situation, they can
be reverted back to combat-ready in three days," said 1st Lt.
Elbert Mose, a program manager in the 508th Aircraft Sustainment
Group. "We have never had a situation where that has happened, but
in 72 hours we could put the gun system back into a plane and (it
would) be completely ready."
Colonel Thomas said the delivery of the first air show-ready
Thunderbird at Hill is significant to more than just would-be air
show spectators.
"This is about more than just fancy maneuvers in the sky," he
said. "It's exciting because you see the high level of dedication
and commitment that Team Hill has put into the airplane, and you
know it's the same product our warfighter Airmen are taking into
combat."
Air Force officials already are upgrading F-16's through the
Common Configuration Implementation Program. Ogden ALC workers are
slated to de-modify an older series of Thunderbirds to the Block 32
version in order to make them combat ready, in addition to several
other CCIP modifications that occurred earlier this year.
These aircraft eventually will replace the current Thunderbirds
F-16s and should be ready for the 2009 show season.
(Aero-News Salutes Capt. Genieve David, 75th Air Base Wing
Public Affairs)