Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review – March 2024

Edwards hosts F-16 50th anniversary celebration
By Giancarlo Casem
412th Test Wing Public Affairs
ED WARD S AIR FORCE BASE, Cali f . 􏰀 Multiple F􏰁1􏰂s Fighting Falcons from units around the nation de- scended upon 􏰃dwards Air Force 􏰄ase, Calif., to partake in Falcon Re􏰅oin 50, Jan. 25, 202􏰆, in celebration of the F􏰁1􏰂’s first flight. The anniversary event was open to base residents and employees and featured a performance from the Air Combat Command F􏰁1􏰂 Viper Demonstration Team as well guest speakers who have contributed to both the developmental test of the F􏰁1􏰂 and also those who have flown the aircraft in combat.
Photo by Kyle Brasier
The United States Air Force Air Demonstration “Thunderbirds” conduct a winter training session during Falcon Rejoin 50, Jan. 25, 2024, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Multiple F-16s Fighting Falcons from units around the nation descended upon Edwards to partake in the celebration of the F-16’s first flight.
Photo by Nicolas Cholula
Local students try hands-on STEM experiences during Falcon Rejoin 50, Jan. 25, 2024, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Falcon Rejoin 50 celebrated the F-16’s 50th anniversary of its first flight, which took place on Edwards AFB, Jan. 20, 1974.
F-16 Viper Demonstration Team performs at F-16 First Flight 50th Anniversary event
Photo by Kyle Brasier
ED WARD S AIR FORCE BASE, Cali f . — The U.S. Air Force F􏰁1􏰂 Vi- per Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter S.C., performed at the F􏰁1􏰂 First Flight 50th Anniversary 􏰃vent, at 􏰃dwards Air Force 􏰄ase, Calif., Jan. 20, 2024.
The anniversary event, hosted by E dwards AFB where the aircraft com- pleted its maiden flight in January 197􏰆, celebrated F􏰁1􏰂 Fighting Falcon aircraft and pilot heritage.
“The event was put together in four months and I knew we had an event once the F􏰁1􏰂 Viper Demo Team committed early on, which was very excit- ing,” said Tony Accurso, F􏰁1􏰂 First Flight 50th Anniversary 􏰃vent organizer. “􏰄ringing the F􏰁1􏰂 community and their families together to celebrate this incredibleaircrafthereatE dwardsAFBissomethingIwillcherishforever.”
The event included keynote speakers discussing the history of the F􏰁1􏰂, demonstrations from the Viper Demonstration Team and Thunderbirds, as well as F􏰁22 Raptor, F􏰁35 Lightning, and the 50th anniversary commemora- tive F􏰁1􏰂 tail flyovers. The design of the F􏰁1􏰂 tail showcased at the F􏰁1􏰂 First Flight 50th Anniversary 􏰃vent mimics the paint scheme associated with the original F􏰁1􏰂 Fighting Falcon fleet in the 1970s.
“Our team gets to represent the Viper to a worldwide audience, so getting to showcase the combat capabilities of the F􏰁1􏰂 to the people who started it all 50 years ago is something we feel incredibly lucky to do,” said Capt. Ai- mee “Rebel” Fiedler, F􏰁1􏰂 Viper Demonstration team commander and pilot.
The F􏰁1􏰂 Viper Demonstration Team will be traveling to around 25 air- shows during the 202􏰆 season, demonstrating the F􏰁1􏰂’s legacy as a pio- neering multirole fighter aircraft, inspiring a new generation of pilots and maintainers, and celebrating the golden anniversary of the airframe.
“We want every generation of pilot and maintainer to feel proud of this machine and what it has accomplished over the five decades it has been in service,” said Fiedler.
Top: An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 416th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, flies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., during Falcon Rejoin 50, Jan. 25, 2024. Falcon Rejoin 50 celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the YF-16 on Jan. 20, 1974.
Photo by Kyle Brasier
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Photo by Nicolas Cholula
Aerotech News and Review
March 1, 2024
Local students try hands-on STEM experiences during Falcon Rejoin 50.
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