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| By Fred Harl |
The Aero Experience coverage of tactical jet operations continues with our next featured aircraft, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, or Viper. F-16s from several units were parked together for later staging and airshow performances. Included here are jets from the 115th FW, Madison, WI; the F-16 Demonstration Team based at Shaw AFB, SC.; and the 309th FS, Luke AFB, AZ. The F-16s from Luke AFB and WI Air National Guard were on display in Boeing Plaza, and of course the F-16 Demonstration Team jets flew in selected daily airshows.
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| By Fred Harl |
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012 hosted a number of military aircraft at the Phillips 66 Plaza, and one of them was an F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 115th FW of the Wisconsin Air National Guard based in Madison. The unit was formed as the 176th Fighter Squadron in 1948 at Truax Field, receiving F-51 Mustangs and an invitation to join the Korean War in 1950. Other aircraft assigned to the unit include F-89 Scorpion, F-86 Sabre, F-102 Delta Dagger, O-2 Skymaster, OA-37 Dragonfly, A-10 Thunderbolt, and F-16s. The unit designation was changed to the 128th TFW in 1981 with the arrival of the A-10s, and later to 115th FW in 1995, three years after converting to the F-16. Here are some interesting views of the F-16C, s/n 87-0318, on display:
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| By Fred Harl |
A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 128th ARW, Wisconsin ANG based at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base in Milwaukee was another "heavy" on hand at this year's AirVenture. The importance of the air refueling mission is self-evident in the age of fuel-thirsty jets. The KC-135 featured here is 62-3512, converted from an "A" to re-engine "R" model, and now in its 50th year of service.
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(128th ARW graphic)
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