Pictures from MY work ;-)

[Lessen]

I agree with you guys. The F16 is just a beautiful plane. I don't know.. there's just something classic about it I suppose. It just looks right.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

My godfather is a LT-Col in the air force. He flew f-16's for almost 20 years in active duty, now he trains the pilots.

 

[frickenjoey]

Sadly, I thought I heard that the F-22 program is being scrapped. I suppose the F-35 will be fine. I'm like neobart, though. The F-16 is by far the most beautiful fighter out there. Small. Fast. And it scares the hell out of me because of that. Plus the the sleek Great White style just looks bad ass. We have a squadron of F-16's here and I get to watch them fly over the city twice a day. It's pretty awesome.

There is also a write up on the the AIr Force link web site on the issue of the Raptor becoming an expensive baby....http://http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123144084
But then again the C-130 and KC-135s were only supposed to be in service for about 10-15 years. They are still going strong over 50 years later. Who guess what will actually happen. Many of the older aircraft have the staying power...F-117....20 year old plane...gone. B-52? Yeah Korean war vintage? I could go on forever...so.....;-)

 

[Lessen]

My god, I can't believe the F117 is 20 years old already. 28 is NOT supposed to feel this old hehehe.

 

[frickenjoey]

Actually the F-117 came in to service in 1983 and saw its first combat in 1989. I think only one was ever shot down. That was over Yugo in early spring 1999. I was working Rescue at the time with the Joint Special Operations Task Force 2. We picked the pilot up out of very deep hostile territory. I did not get to go on that mission sadly but I saw the birds that did get him launch out. Damn I guess I have some history.. lol....

 

[SMaxxin]

OMG those pics are bad ass, your a lucky mofo!

 

[hamz9561]

I just wonder how you clean the windshield after the fill-up?

 

[h8z2luze]

That is so sick! Congrats on having the best view in the world lol.

 

[destrucktomaxx]

I thought the F35 was the update to the Harrier.

I used to make/clean/finish the Ti parts for quite a few models of jets when I worked for a factory in my town. Joey...familiar with turkey feathers? Not in the fowl sense.

 

[frickenjoey]

Yes I am actually by trade I am a jet engine mechanic so yeah I have seen a few ;-) ...I guess that is one of you babies? The F-35 actually comes in three configurations....not all of them are VTOL. The Air Force versions were not actually.

 

[abadk9420]

Wow I just saw these pics for the first time and those are some sweet pics, sure would be cool to be that close to the action.

 

[destrucktomaxx]

Yes I am actually by trade I am a jet engine mechanic so yeah I have seen a few ;-) ...I guess that is one of you babies? The F-35 actually comes in three configurations....not all of them are VTOL. The Air Force versions were not actually.

Might be. Lord knows I've only made thousands of them, lol. Just what exactly to you people do to those during and after use, to require so many to be made? Jeebus, I'm not even joking! I've had to have either made/cleaned/de-burred at least 50,000 or so of them in the 2 years I worked for that company.

And just what exactly is the lifespan?