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Show HILL TOP TIMES Friday, May 17, 1985 Tw l 6 Maj. Harold "Gonzo" Gonzales reached the plateau May 3, and Capt. Thomas B. Ward hit the mark April 17. Both were on surface attack training missions when they reached the milestone. F-1- 6. first-assignme- nt T-3-7. F-1- "The flight was blissfully uneventful," Major Gonzales said. "This (the is the best flying machine in the world. It's a good, honest airplane." F-1- a irk chemical warfare attack which meant he was in full chemical warfare gear. "It was a typical combat sortie," he said. Although they entered the Air Force two years apart, their careers have been similar, and almost parallel in the Both were instructor pilots in the Both were in the first 6 "B" course which began in March 1980 in the 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, now the 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Both remained here after their transition into the Falcon to be initial cadre in two other 6 squadrons Major Gonzales in the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Captain Ward in the 421st AMU. Tocticol Fighter Wing Public Affairs Two 388th Tactical Fighter Wing Fighting Falcon pilots have passed the 1,000 flying hour mark in the Air Force's most sophisticated jet fighter. F-- nr. 1f00-foy- ir By 1st Lt. Ed Worley 388th pifotfslhieire fogllutfeir ireaefo fV 'IrM n.fwinn. J F-1- 6) Captain Ward said the milestone is special to him because all of his time in the 6 is operational. "A lot of guys have done it (made 1,000 hours) in a replacement training unit where they fly a lot more hours than the guy on the line," he explained. "Gonzo and I have been in combat squadrons all the time." In September 1982, Captain Ward left Hill AFB for a one-yetour with the 8th TFW, Kunsan AB, Korea. A month later, Major Gonzales headed for the 8th TFW. F-1- ar After a year in Korea, each of them returned a month apart to Hill AFB. Major Gonzales was first a flight commander in the 4th TFS and is now wing chief of safety. Captain Ward returned to the 34th TFS and is the squadron weapons officer. Captain Ward said RTU instructor pilots average about 50 hours more flight time annually than pilots in operational squadrons. He said 1,000 hours of 6 time equates to about single-engin- e 850 missions in the single-seafighter. Captain Ward flew his 1,000th hour during a wing battle week in condition black simulated F-1- Major Gonzales has logged more than a.oou total nying nours in tne 0-and Captain Ward has and than 2,500 in the t, T-3- 7, F-1- 6. 2 T-3- F-1- 6. 7 , Air Force Photo) Fighting Maj. Harold "Gonzo" Gonzales climbs down from his con after reaching his 1,000 flying hour mark in the sophisticated jet. LET YOU EiHO OPENB OOMSF OR YOU Ai A u.s. F-- 16 U UY Fal-mo- V Y ; home equity loan from XjjL America First Credit Unjon can open the door for a family vacation, home improvements, bill consolidation, or any other worthwhile purpose. Just tell iis what doors you'd like opened . . . and we'll put your home equity to work today. " . Credit Union. : Now everyone in Utah can join! r n T ! Beautify a Bathroom : '' A5;! rmi WmMJPZX " Consolidate Your Mb IRnehlttn : : a Bedroom J ; PET AMEROCA FORST CREDIT UNION We Belosg Together! Founded in 1939 as Federal Employees Credit Union The Intermountain West's Largest Credit Union fcNCUA Your savings insured to SI 00, 000 by an agency of the Federal Government. m' ' LENDER re |