Heritage F-16 receives face lift

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Griffin
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The F-16 currently on static display at Heritage Park will be, in a sense, getting a makeover from the corrosion control staff of the 354th Maintenance Squadron, and will be put back in its long-time home, Heritage Park, with a proposed date in September.

The aircraft was transferred from the park Aug. 13 to the Corrosion Control hangar to be sanded down and repainted to the current paint scheme that is being used on Eielson's F-16s beginning Aug. 28.

"We will be painting the F-16 to the current scheme we use now, with some slight variations," said Master Sgt. Dustin Hopkins, 354th MXS structural maintenance section chief. "But for the most part the look of the aircraft will be what you see everyday at Eielson."

The F-16 displayed at Heritage Park is there to pay homage, and to help Icemen remember Eielson's rich history.

The first F-16 arrived at Eielson was March 7, 1991. With the Fighting Falcons from the 18th Fighter Squadron leaving Eielson the Iceman Team will still maintain F-16's but they will be aggressors.

"It gives me great pride to be involved in painting this aircraft to be displayed for the public viewing," said Airman 1st Class Anou Souvannavong, 354th MXS. "It is cool to showcase the skills the Air Force has given us."

The areas needing new paint will be sanded down to the base coat and thoroughly washed in preparation for coating application. Coating application includes spray painting a primer then spray painting the top coat on.

"The project completion date is Sept. 3," said Sergeant Hopkins. " It will take one day to wash, five to seven days to sand and prep the surfaces, and repair any bad spots if we discover corrosion, dents, etc. and four days to paint and apply decals."

Sergeant Hopkins would like to thank all those involved in the process to make this happen.

"I would like to thank Airman 1st Class Francis Shea and Airman 1st Class Scott Maskal from the 18th Fighter Squadron for helping wash the aircraft before the painting process, plus the 354th Security Forces Squadron and 354th Civil Engineer Squadron with all of their help to make this process easier."