Italian defense officials accepted the first of 34
modified and refurbished F-16 Fighting Falcon A and B models from
experts at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 16. Maj. Gen. Tommaso
Ferro, air defense and defense cooperation attaché for the
Italian air force, lead a delegation of military and diplomatic
dignitaries in accepting aircraft purchased under the Defense
Department's foreign military sales program.
Ogden's Air Logistics Center provides total support for
America's F-16 fleet by modifying and upgrading existing models,
creating better fighters than originally imagined by engineers,
said Maj. Gen. Scott Bergren, Ogden ALC commander.
"We took the first aircraft for this program about a year ago,
so we looked forward to this rollout with great anticipation," the
general said. "This is our third foreign military sales rollout,
and I'm convinced we get better with each one.” The F-16, a
multirole fighter, provides extreme maneuverability and wide combat
radius coupled with state of art avionics, allowing it to serve as
a lethal weapons platform against aerial and ground targets.
Brought up from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the five
F-16s, which will be delivered to Italy in the next few weeks, have
undergone 220 days of refurbishment and upgrades, according to
Wayne Hansen, F-16 production chief here. The aircraft work
complied with all technical compliance-technical orders changes
since the aircraft was placed in stasis in Arizona, Hansen
said.
Depot teams also made several modifications, including replacing
some bulkheads that strengthen holes around fuel cell panels and
wheel wells, Hansen said. The wings were removed and the bulkhead
furthest aft that holds the vertical wing was replaced. The landing
gear was refurbished and its bulkhead was also replaced.
The landing gear was refurbished and maintainers replaced the
flight controls actuators. Computers and instruments, which provide
the F-16 its technological edge, were removed, then tested and
repaired as necessary, Hansen said. All equipment listed as a time
change item -- one that must be changed after so many takeoffs and
landings after a certain amount hours or has less than a full
year's worth of service left -- is changed, Hansen said.
"The A and B model planes were built between 1978 and 1982, but
these will be like new planes," Hansen said. After the
modifications are complete, Hansen crews "bead blast them to the
metal then paint the Italian color scheme."
"Upon viewing the first Fighting Falcon with Italian markings on
it, I salute you and thank you for an outstanding job by the fine
people at the Ogden Air Logistics Center,” said Ferro.
“It's great to see such superb workmanship done with such
spirit. This aircraft will advance our air defense and provides a
step forward in our alliance, creating a strong bilateral
relationship."
Italy will receive four B model F-16s, which are two-seat
aircraft and will possibly be used to train Italian air force
pilots who have never flown the aircraft before. The final F-16
delivery to Italy is scheduled for November 2004. [ANN Thanks Gary
Boyle, Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs]