Kirtland AFB to lose F-16s

F-16.net ^ | FEBRUARY 23, 2010 | Asif Shamim

[Jet Jaguar]

Kirtland Air Force Base will lose 18 ANG F-16Cs from the 188th Fighter Squadron & hundreds of jobs as part of the federal government's plan to cut its fighter fleet.

By the end of this autumn the USAF will have reduced its fighter fleet by 250 jets. The first jets begin to leave as of April 1st and the government hopes the last will be retired by the end of September.

The hope is that some of the money saved will allow the USAF to purchase new aircraft such as the F-35.

Retired Col. Charlie Thomas a military analyst and former Kirtland base commander was quoted to have said the impact of the F-16s will also affect people working at the base and local area.

"There's about a thousand or so positions that are really going to go away," said Thomas. "It's tough on the morale, especially for the people involved, so there's a lot of decisions that have to be made over time now."

Thomas said change is to be expected when you work in the Air Force.

"It is unfortunate that we lose a flying mission that everybody has loved, but that's just what's happening," said Thomas. "We're bringing down the size of the Air Force and the number of planes that we have."

[Jet Jaguar]

F-16 ping.

[SZonian]

JJ, any idea on what Block these are?

SZ

[Frantzie]

Well NASA was wiped out so why not. People voted for the destruction and bankruptcy of America.

[Jet Jaguar]

Block 30 or 32.

[JimVT]

The ANG at Burlington VT is one of the bases being considered for F35s.

The left wingers are screaming already!

[LuvFreeRepublic]

"We're bringing down the size of the Air Force and the number of planes that we have."

Yes that is what is happening. The unknown is what the impact will be to our defense in general, and our air superiority in particular. Thanks for the post.

[Jagdgewehr]

Concepts like “air superiority” are an anathema to those now in power in our government.

[SZonian]

Those are pretty old jets. ~ 20-25 yrs old with older avionics suites.

Could just be an R&M issue.

But what’s with the use of the word “hope” in the article? /rehtorical

[Tarpon]

ZERO gnaws away, like some rat in the dark.

[darkwing104]

Block 30s...

[darkwing104]

Looks like the long term goal is aimed at UAVs. Might as well get rid of the air breathers (Pilots) now and get ready for the new generation unrated Nintendo Aviators...

[Dem Guard]

So when is Washington going to turn the knife on all the bureaucratic agencies in DC that weren't necessary in the recent snow storms?

[LuvFreeRepublic]

Concepts like “air superiority” are an anathema to those now in power in our government.

Yes it is and it is too bad that negative ramifications from their ignorance can't be felt by them and them alone.

[Dogbert41]

Give them to Israel. They’ll be needing them SOON.

[rahbert]

Sounds like these are close to timed out airframes.

Would they be put through some kind of refit and into storage or just scrapped for parts?

[SandRat]

I suspect I'll see them lining up at Aircraft Bone Yard at Davis-Montham AFB in Tucson, Arizona.

[Squantos]

I was there when Thomas was wing king....he was a pretty good commander.

[SZonian]

They usually end up in DM as parts birds or refitted and sold to overseas customers.

It depends on what the disposition paperwork says though.

[blackie]

Yes, dissolve the BAFT, Education Dept, the EPA, all of czars, Commerce Dept, the FED, HUD, IRS, Fannie and Freddie...also get our of the auto industry, etc.

That’s a good start!