Arriving on 6.12. at ca. 14.30h were F-35A L-001, L-005, L-006 and L-011 (so no L-002 as earlier stated), all planned for Esk 727 use. Due to the low clouds and IFR situation at Skrydstrup all of them made a GCA landing. The three former 308th FS and Luke-based Lightning II still wear the construction number at their starboard nose-wheel door.
Also noted was Cl-604 C-172 of Esk 721, which made the SAR cover during the tour.
Most of the six Block 10 aircrafts are no longer flying, only E-190 should still be operational. During 2025 only some 18-20 different will still be flying in Denmark.
Herby wrote: ↑07 Dec 2024, 10:42
In a few weeks one of the last years of Danish F-16 operations will begin. Now another delivery took place to the UKR, presumably 4-6 aircrafts.
Most of the six Block 10 aircrafts are no longer flying, only E-190 should still be operational. During 2025 only some 18-20 different will still be flying in Denmark.
With the delivery of GIA ET-210 happened as planned the next handing-overs are a little bit clearer.
The first six F-16 will be delivered as late as December 2025 after pilots and technicans are trained. This will be four F-16BM and two F-16AM. In each of the years 2026, 2027 and 2028 six more will be delivered so that in late-2028 the last of 24 are going to Tandil.
Some ten Former Danish AF F-16AM are now operating in the Ukraine, nine more will follow soon. The last delivery flight of four aircraft was on 2.12.
With an increasing number of F-35 arriving during the year in late-2025 some 18 F-16 and 14 to 17 F-35 could be operated here. The Flyvevabnet stated that the AVB will be taken over by the F-35A somewhere in 2025.
After some 20 pilots were converted to the F-16 for the Ukrainian AF the training will terminate in December 2024 and transferred to Monte Real/Portugal. All Danish resources will needed to operate the F-35A and bring it to full operational capability.
Herby wrote: ↑17 Dec 2024, 10:52
After some 20 pilots were converted to the F-16 for the Ukrainian AF the training will terminate in December 2024 and transferred to Monte Real/Portugal. All Danish resources will needed to operate the F-35A and bring it to full operational capability.
There are strong indications that the Norwegian Air Force will provide the training in Portugal.
Herby wrote: ↑17 Dec 2024, 10:52
After some 20 pilots were converted to the F-16 for the Ukrainian AF the training will terminate in December 2024 and transferred to Monte Real/Portugal. All Danish resources will needed to operate the F-35A and bring it to full operational capability.
There are strong indications that the Norwegian Air Force will provide the training in Portugal.
Belgium is contributing to the training of Ukrainian pilots. Next year, a detachment of 55 Belgian military personnel will be in Portugal for three months to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots.
Departing clean to Hovedværksteder in the morning was an unfortunately unidentified (due to low sun and dust) F-16AM.
Obviously the same pilot arrived back from Aalborg after 13.00h with an F-16BM, most presumably ET-208 (no quick evidence as an analog photographer) in clean configuration. It wore the old camo, but the serial on the fin! So perhaps it will get the Have Glass V camo soon. The F-16 arrived flying very low with full afterburner over Esk 727s dispersal and landed.
Belgian AF F-16BM FB20 and FB21 flew in the morning.
In the afternoon (takeoff from 12.55-13.15h) only E-601 and E-609 flew plus F-35A L-009 again.
A quite rare training appearance here was CL.604 C-172 of Esk 721 which did an overflight, landing and taking off and touch and go in a 20 minutes period.
The mentioned F-16BM was identified as ET-208 (slide evidence) and it will (or already was) most likely painted in Have Glass V and will be delivered in December 2025 or later to Argentina.
Question: do I understand it right that the Argentinian F-16s won't be delivered until end of 2025 (apart from the first non-flyer that has already been delivered)? And do they aready fly in full Argentinian c/s, as I heard a rumour say? If so, it would be interesting to spend a day or so here coming summer...!
patrick dirksen wrote: ↑02 Jan 2025, 20:18
Question: do I understand it right that the Argentinian F-16s won't be delivered until end of 2025 (apart from the first non-flyer that has already been delivered)? And do they aready fly in full Argentinian c/s, as I heard a rumour say? If so, it would be interesting to spend a day or so here coming summer...!
The first six jets, four of which will be two-seaters, will be delivered in December 2025. Followed by three more flights of six, the exact delivery date of which is not yet clear. Apart from the instruction two-seater that has already been delivered no F-16 has been painted in Argentine colours, don't be fooled by the many photoshop images on the internet. Given that the ferry flight will be flown by Danish pilots I can't imagine there will be Argentine markings on it when it leaves Denmark.
patrick dirksen wrote: ↑02 Jan 2025, 20:18
Question: do I understand it right that the Argentinian F-16s won't be delivered until end of 2025 (apart from the first non-flyer that has already been delivered)? And do they aready fly in full Argentinian c/s, as I heard a rumour say? If so, it would be interesting to spend a day or so here coming summer...!
The first six jets, four of which will be two-seaters, will be delivered in December 2025. Followed by three more flights of six, the exact delivery date of which is not yet clear. Apart from the instruction two-seater that has already been delivered no F-16 has been painted in Argentine colours, don't be fooled by the many photoshop images on the internet. Given that the ferry flight will be flown by Danish pilots I can't imagine there will be Argentine markings on it when it leaves Denmark.
OK, thanks! Indeed the photoshop (apparently) and rumours indicated otherwise. Good to know, saves a wasted journey!
The planned support for the F-35 delivery arrived at Luke and it will obviously be French AF/ERVTS 02.031 A.330-243MRTT 048/F-UJCN. The flight is scheduled for the weekend.
