Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, June 7, 2019
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vol. 3, no. 12 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR June 7, 2019
An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
New F-16 Ghost paint scheme
brings unique look to 64th AGRS
by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie an aircraft painter with M1 assigned to Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie
the 57th Maintenance Group. “It means
Nellis AFB, Nev. just as much to us as it does to the pilots An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS) received
and we’re really glad to be a part of it.†new decals and stenciling inside the corrosion shop on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., May 16,
An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet 2019. The 64th AGRS provides realistic training as the U.S. Air Force’s professional adversaries,
made its initial flight after receiving M1 was tasked to take the idea from
the first U.S. Air Force “Ghost†paint a two-dimensional graphic to a three- flying F-16
scheme, May 23. dimensional 20,300-pound fighter jet. aircraft for Red
Flag and Maple
The design was chosen by a poll held From there they had to mask, sand, Flag exercises,
by Brig. Gen. Robert Novotny, 57th Wing wash, prime, paint and apply stencils to USAF Weapons
commander, on his social media account the aircraft for it to be completed. School syllabus
to add a new look to the 64th Aggressor support and
Squadron. The project started on April 22 once priority test
the F-16 was towed into the corrosion mission support.
“I love this job, and I love what we do shop from Viper Aircraft Maintenance
at Nellis Air Force Base, so I want to take Unit. With a seven-man team on days
any opportunity to boast about our fine and a six-man team on swings for M1, the
men and women who do great work for jet was finished in just under one month.
their nation,†said Novotny. “Social Me-
dia gives me a chance to connect directly Once the jet was finished, it was towed
with the folks who have a similar passion back to Viper AMU and back in the
for military aviation.†hands of its crew chief.
Novotny decided to take a non-tradi- “It’s quite an honor [being the crew
tional route of determining a new paint chief for the first Air Force Ghost paint
scheme for the F-16. Facebook and No- scheme],†said Master Sgt. Corey Cain,
votny’s followers would be the deciding 926 AMXS dedicated crew chief. “Once I
factor for the new Ghost scheme. learned about the crowd sourcing for the
paint scheme, I was very excited for it. I
Once the poll was concluded, the idea knew an aircraft was going to receive this
of the Ghost jet was handed off to the paint job but when they said it was going
Mission First (M1) crew at the corrosion to be my jet, I was pumped.â€
shop to make it a reality.
Keep an eye out for a Ghost in the sky.
“We want a good product just like the It will surely be a daunting adversary for
commander does,†said Troy Blaschko, our Air Force and our allies.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie
An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the 64th Aggressors Squadron Viper Aircraft Maintenance Unit sits on Aircraft painters for Mission First (M1) assigned to the 57th
the flightline at Nellis Air Force base, Nev., May 21, 2019. Aircraft Maintenance Group sand the tail of an F-16 Fighting
Falcon fighter jet assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron
inside the corrosion shop on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., May
1, 2019. While the entire aircraft is being sanded and removed
of decals, older layers of paint and primer began to show
throughout the process.
INSIDE: Commentary — 2; News — 3-6; Veterans’ News — 8; Nellis Living — 15; Lighter Side — 16
