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Show HILLTOP TIMES 6 TIMES Augusts, 2010 Maintainers resurrect F-16s that become targets Kris Clark reads a technical order as he replaces a gyro on a F-16 Fighting r Falcon at DavisMonthan Air Force Base, Ariz, on Jul. 30. Clark is an aircraft mechanic for the 309th : Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. BY STAFF SGT. VANESSA YOUNG Defense Media Activity - San Antonio D AVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Maintainers are towing F-16 Fighting Falcons out of retirement from the "boneyard" here July 29 and preparing them to become the Air Force's newest platform for target training. Specialists with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group are regenerating F-16s so they can be flown to a Boeing facility in Florida where they will be converted to QF-16 full-scale aerial targets. Boeing officials received a $69.7 million contract from Air Force officials in March to convert up to 126 retired F-16s into QF-16 drones that can fly either manned or unmanned, according to a Boeing news release. y As part of the QF-16 program developmental phase, Boeing officials ijfeked 309th AMARG maintainers to T^generate six F-16s. The maintainers spent more than a year and a half, an average of about 80 days per aircraft, preparing the first six aircraft to fly to the Boeing facility. The first F-16 arrived at the Boeing facility in April. ;The fourth is scheduled to fly out next ijyeek, while two are still in the mainte'nance phase. :C "Once we pull the aircraft from forage, we remove all the panels to •Jipnduct our preliminary inspections," •said Rob McNichol, an F-16 aircraft STAFF SGT. DESIREE N. PAU\CIOS/U.S. Air Force supervisor with the 309th AMARG. F-16 Fighting Falcons sit in the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz, '"We remove components so that we on Jul. 30, 2010. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group is ican get specialists such as nondestrucconverting F-16s into usable manned or drone targets allowing Air Force to train : rive inspection members to find out if and test new weapons platforms in the process. the aircraft is going to be airworthy. If it isn't, then there's no sense doing anything else to it, and we'll take it inspections, it is further disassemback to the desert." bled to refurbish, upgrade or replace Once an aircraft passes the initial components. A number of operational STAFF SGT. DESIREE N. PALACIOS U.S. Air Force checks and test flights are performed to ensure the aircrart is safe and ready for flight. "We are regenerating these aircraft from purely storage to a fully-flyable,' mission-capable aircraft," McNichol ; said. Maintainers are converting F-16C ; models as well as older F-16A aircraft. Once converted, the QF-16s will replace the few QF-4s left in the inventory. "We're running out of airworthy airframes, there's not that many more left," McNichol said. "The F-16 is a much lower radar picture which is much needed in modern warfare. Everyone is getting into smaller profiles, a smaller radar footprint, which is what the F-16 can give you; plus, it's a lot faster." After modification to the QF-16 configuration, the six aircraft will serve as See AMARG I page 7 Id•-.'.( i.MIS f HblJ O.) y. WEBER F-35 From page 1 According to Air Force officials, a preferred alternative is an alternative that the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors. Tb come up with the list of preferred locations, Air Force teams surveyed each candidate base for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability timelines. "From my personal perspective there are several factors that make Hill a strong candidate to receive the F-35 including access to the Utah Test and Training Range; Hill's robust base infrastructure; its support team made up of dedicated Airmen and civilians; and the tremendous support the installation receives from of our congressional delegation and our surrounding communities," Zobrist said Even though Hill AFB has made it to the next stage, if s not a done deal yet "This is not a final basing decision," said Kathleen Ferguson, the Air Force's deputy assistant secretary for installations. "The preferred alternatives with other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the environmental impact analysis process." The Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is projected to be finished in early 2011. COUNTY Retiring Soon? One of the most important financial decisions of your life will be made. Don't mess it up. Get Experienced Advice Call Robert K Hall 801-728-9451 Layfon, UT CFP CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ QiFC Chartered Financial Consultant AUGUST 11-14, 2010 Weber County Fairgrounds All entertainment included with fair admission unless otherwise noted. Saturday Wednesday AUGUST 11 AUGUST 12 AUGUST 13 AUGUST 14 GRANDSTAND ORANDITAND QRANDSTAND GRANDSTAND Eric Dodge 8 pm Due West 8 pm Brad Bonar Magic, 5 pm Comedy, 8 pm STADIUM STADIUM ATV Rodeo 7 pm s-.-s-.-.-v.' STADIUM Disney Rockin1 Regbttred representative d end securities offered lhiuu0i OnMmaraSeairities,lnc Member FRsTtVSIPC, a Roadshow RegBttsBd Invetmnl Adviser, 1211W, Mynfe, Suite 100. 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