New F-16s take 301st to the next level

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Julie Briden-Garcia
  • 301st Fighter Wing
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  There's a new kid on the block; well there's actually nine. Though not brand new to the 301st Fighter Wing, they're newer than what the 457th Fighter Squadron flew. These nine additional aircraft started arriving here July 31 from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City to the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, the final one arriving Oct. 8.

These new F-16s are a replacement for the eight recently transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan, Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., or what is more commonly referred to as the boneyard. The departing aircraft were part of the 301st family for nearly two decades. But, sometimes it's better to let go of an old friend to make room for new ones.

"These moves help us keep our Air Force's critical F-16 capability here in Fort Worth deep into the next decade," said Brig. Gen. Ronald "Bruce" Miller, 301st Fighter Wing's former commander.

The new jets arrived with about ten percent fewer hours per airframe.

"The aircraft we received have an average of 5,700 flying hours, the aircraft that we are sending to AMARG average almost 6,300 flying hours," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Jongewaard, 301st Maintenance Group superintendent.

This aircraft update will enable the 457 FS's fleet to fly, fight and win for nearly two more decades.

"Swapping those nine aircraft provides the wing with more than 12 years average per aircraft, said Jongewaard. "Our entire fleet is estimated to last now until the year 2030."

When the jets arrived in Fort Worth, they required some work to become deployment ready. Chief Jongewaard explained they need to complete maintenance that was previously deferred since these airframes were expected to go to the boneyard.

"We have some modifications that need to be accomplished to make them the same baseline as our aircraft. We complete an inspection and ensure all part numbers and serial numbers are known so that we can now track time change items. We also have to swap engines with our aircraft to keep our modified engines and turn in our aircraft with unmodified engines."

This labor-intensive duty is required to get these jets ready to perform at 301st standards. It's been mainly five to six Airmen who have toiled on this update but Jongewaard says other sections were still dispatched for unique maintenance requirements taking them between two and three weeks on average to complete.

"This process is taking a lot of our time away from preparing our aircraft, people and equipment for the (upcoming) deployment," said the chief. "(Normally) we would have more time to ensure all the little details are taken care of. We even had a volunteer working weekend to catch up on all of the maintenance we have hindered on, due to competing priorities."

Finally, after all the maintenance has been accomplished on these jets, the renovated F-16s will receive a paint job, the special tail markings, to become a 301st Fighter Wing aircraft.

"This was a lot of work and took a lot of coordination on our wing's part, 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and the 177th Fighter Wing. In the end it is well worth it," said Chief Jongewaard.

This jet swap has provided the 301st Fighter Wing with the number of required aircraft to fill the wing's wartime commitment until the year 2030.

"This finally gives us the extra time needed until a new airframe is put into service for the 301st Fighter Wing," said the chief.