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by Susan Ferns
Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs

3/24/2005 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio. (AFPN) -- The general who was the F-16 System Program Office director here when the contract for the aircraft was awarded delivered the Air Force's last F-16 Fighting Falcon on March 18.

While the Lockheed Martin Aero plant in Fort Worth, Texas, will continue to produce F-16s for international coalition partners, this aircraft is the last of 2,231 F-16s produced for the Air Force, officials said. The first delivery was in 1978.

Brig. Gen. Jeff Riemer, now the director of operations at the Air Force Materiel Command headquarters here, flew the jet from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

“It seemed fitting for General Riemer to make this historic flight, and we were pleased that he was able to accept the invitation,” said Col. Scott Jansson, Aeronautical Systems Center Fighter Attack Systems Wing’s F-16 Systems Group commander.

For his part, General Riemer said that having flown the very first F-16B while stationed at Edwards AFB, Calif., he is delighted to have had the opportunity to fly the last F-16 produced for the Air Force.

“(This F-16) is not your father’s F-16,” said Dan Mahrer, F-16 production program manager. “Originally designed as a lightweight, daytime interceptor, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been transformed over the last 20 years into a multi-role, all weather, air-to-air and air-to-ground attack weapon system.

“Today’s F-16 has significant combat capabilities. This (version of the) jet has a new computer, multifunctional color displays, an advanced (Identification Friend or Foe) interrogator, upgraded data link system and a new helmet with an automatic target-cueing system. It has been upgraded with the latest software and cutting-edge precision weapons,” Mr. Mahrer said.

“Although this is the last new F-16 expected to be produced for the (Air Force), the F-16 Systems Group continues to technically transform the existing fleet of more than 1,300 jets, enabling evolutionary weapons delivery capabilities through 2025 and making possible a smooth transition to the F-35, the world’s premier multi-role fighter of the future,” Col. Jansson said.

"USAF can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time."

<b>"You got me all wrong Mudd...i don't like anyone.</b><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle>"
<img src="http://worldaffairsboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=862&stc=1" border=0>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>“Originally designed as a lightweight, daytime interceptor, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been transformed over the last 20 years into a multi-role, all weather, air-to-air and air-to-ground attack weapon system.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
He left out entertainment value to the Hawg community!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together...." - Carl Zwanzig

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

<i>He left out entertainment value to the Hawg community!</i>
<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

why cancel such a proven program, the F16 may be old but it can still hack it with newer jets, and for a small aircraft, it has a lot of teeth



<img src="http://www.boomspeed.com/megazone23/su27.jpg" border=0>

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US

He left out entertainment value to the Hawg community!
<i></i>
Dont forget to mention the mutlitude of training that the R & R shop gets from digging them out of the smoking holes.

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

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YGBSM !

why cancel such a proven program, the <b>Spitfire</b> may be old but it can still hack it with newer jets, and for a small aircraft, it has a lot of teeth



THE RAMPTOR ENGINEERING TEAM <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
"Who cares if it works? Does it look good on the ramp?"

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