The F-16s had joined another four for the flight home from the U.S. when mechanical issues forced the pair to be grounded in Hawaii for repairs
Last two F-16s for the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) have finally arrived home in Iswahjudi air base on Jan. 12, Antara reports.
The jets had joined another four for the flight home from the U.S. when mechanical issues forced the pair to be grounded in Hawaii for repairs.
TNI-AU was offered 24 ex-USAF F-16s for free (but to be be upgraded similar to the latest Block 50/52 variant with payment) during the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama on 9–10 November 2010 in Jakarta.
Originally flown by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard (ANG) units, the Vipers involved in the program have been stored for several years at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) open-air storage area at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Ariz.
Each jet had circa 5,000 training and combat hours on its wings before being retired.
In preparation for regeneration, each aircraft was carefully dismantled, prepared, and shipped in crates 800 miles north of Davis-Monthan to Hill AFB.
The Ogden Air Logistics Complex’s 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was responsible for the restoration and began its work in 2013.
Prior to be delivered to Indonesia, each aircraft, that had received a myriad of new and upgraded components (such as a new set of wings, horizontal stabilizers, and landing gear, along with numerous structural and avionics capability enhancements) performed rigorous flight tests.
In 1989 the service ordered 12 F-16A/Bs, of which only 10 remain in active service today. As we have reported an F 16B skidded off runway and overturned at Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase during landing after it conducted an exercise on Mar. 14, 2017.
Photo credit: Alex R. Lloyd / U.S. Air Force
