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The F-16A is Getting a New Look

Jul
Uncategorized, News July 20, 2017

Known as “Little Precious,” the Museum is painting an F-16A to its original test paint scheme. To prepare for the work, the aircraft was moved from the Museum airpark. Little Precious is currently displayed with the operational paint scheme (the gray coloring). However, it was the Ogden Air Logistics Center’s first engineering F-16. It arrived at Hill Air Force Base on February 26, 1982, and joined the installation’s F-4 “White Birds” for flight test duties. Here, it flew crucial test missions to support the growing F-16 fleet for more than a decade. Prior to its arrival to Hill Air Force base, Little Precious was used by the manufacturer for flight test support

The aircraft was Ogden Air Logistics Center’s first engineering F-16. It arrived at Hill Air Force Base on February 26, 1982. The F-16 joined Hill AFB’s F-4 “White Birds” for flight testing duties. It remained the only F-16 for the Air Force Logistics Command’s only F-16 for most of the decade where it was assigned to fly crucial test missions to support the growing F-16 fleet.

This F-16A was manufactured by the Fort Worth Division of General Dynamics Corporation, and the aircraft was obtained by the United States Air Force on December 11, 1981. It was originally used by the manufacturer for flight test support, and was then deployed to Edwards Air Force Base and later Hill Air Force Base.

In 1994, the aircraft was assigned to the 514th Flight Test Squadron at Hill Air Force Base. Then, in 1995, it was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (now the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Later, it was moved back to Utah and placed on a display at the West Gate of Hill Air Force Base.

Today, the F-16A is part of the United States Air Force Museum System and is on loan to the Hill Aerospace Museum. It will be painted the glossy white and bright orange paint scheme from its flight test days at Hill Air Force Base.

F-16 with Gray Coloring on the Grounds at Hill Aerospace Museum                                            Airborne F-16 (thumbnail) with Flight Test White and Bright Orange Paint Scheme

 

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