Luke loans jets, maintainers to Eglin
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- As part of a plan to prepare the 33rd Fighter Wing for the eventual arrival of the F-35, Luke Air Force Base has loaned them some assets.
Four F-16 Fighting Falcons and about 50 maintainers from Luke arrived on the Eglin AFB, Fla., flightline Jan. 13 and will remain there for about a year. Their new mission is to keep F-35 instructor pilots current on flying training while testing F-35 training procedures.
"Everybody who operates on this base will benefit from an airplane taxiing out of here," said Col. James Ravella, 33rd Operations Group commander. "Outside the base, from Tyndall AFB, Fla., to Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla., and other divert bases will get used to us coming over there."
Luke's F-16s are the only aircraft the 33rd FW's flightline has seen in 17 months. The F-15 Eagle left when the wing became part of the Air Education and Training Command in October 2009.
Officials from AETC, Eglin and Luke worked together to bring F-16s to Eglin because it's similar to the F-35. Its flying characteristics are comparable to the F-35 and the single-seat, single-engine training and mindset will readily transfer as the base receives its first F-35 aircraft.
The F-16s will play a huge role in the F-35 stand up process, said Navy Capt. Michael Saunders, 33rd OG deputy commander.
"This program is too important to the future of our nation to leave it to conceptual planning," Captain Saunders said. "We need to test our processes with real iron -- actual aircraft. The F-16s will help us root out the processes and identify seams or rough spots before we start training on F-35s."
Colonel Ravella said the whole process is a joint effort, not just between bases, but also between services. Team Eglin members play multiple roles in the success of the 33rd FW training mission, and the addition of these four aircraft will rekindle those partnerships.
The 33rd FW is responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Air Force.
"Eventually, Marine pilots will also fly the F-16 before they transition to their version of the F-35," he said.
In the future, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service, will be established at Eglin.
"It is a part of a continuing process," Colonel Ravella said. "Bringing an airplane in here is a huge step; it is a visual step that the 33rd FW is restarting flying operations."
The first F-35s are expected to arrive at Eglin during the summer.
Ashley Wright, Team Eglin Public Affairs, contributed to this story