The Vermont ANG says 'Farewell' to its last Block-25!

On November 14, 2008, the Vermont Air National Guard said farewell to its last F-16C Block 25. That day, the 158th Fighter Wing's oldest F-16C, 83-1165, also known as 'Lethal Lady' flew her last mission before being retired. This particular jet has the honor of being the first single seat F-16 to reach 7,000 flying hours and has logged more than 1,000 of those hours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Delivered to the USAF in May 1985, the aircraft was first assigned to the 363rd TFW at Shaw AFB, SC and flew 42 missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In December 1991, the aircraft was transferred to the 163rd Fighter Squadron from the Indiana Air National Guard, located in Fort Wayne. When the 158th Fighter Wing converted to the F-16C in 1994, the unit received 83-1165 from the 163rd FS. While flying with the Vermont Air National Guard, the jet deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On March 24, 2008, the jet became the first single seat F-16 to reach 7,000 hours. In the cockpit that day was Ltc Thomas "TJ" Jackman who had been flying 83-1165 for the last 10 years. Reaching this milestone with the aircraft was a great feeling for 'TJ". "It meant a lot to me because I am a lot older than the jet and there's a lot of guys my age that don't get to fly this anymore," said "TJ" after the flight. Colonel Jackman gave credits to the maintenance crew for getting the jet to this point. In April, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, co-chair of the Senate's National Guard Caucus, pushed the Air Force to have the nation's longest-flying F-16 put on permanent display rather than sent to the Arizona desert for storage. Senator Leahy asked the Air Force to save this particular aircraft as a testamet to the ground crews that maintained the plane and the pilots who flew it. "The Lethal Lady is an enblem of the skill and spirit of the Vermont Air National Guard and I am glad we'll be able to keep her close to home," Leahy said after receiving the approval from the Air Force to keep the jet in Vermont.

In the summer of 2008, the 158th Fighter Wing began a conversion to more powerful Block 30 and the days were counted for the old -25s. While most of the old Block 25s were gonna be retired to the Boneyard in Tucson, AZ., it was decided to preserve F-16C 83-1165 at home in Vermont. Lethal Lady's official fini flight took place on November 14 with Col. Jackman, 158th Maintenance Group commander, in the cockpit. The jet was part of a two-ship training mission with one of the newer Block 30 recently transferred to the Vermont ANG.

Soon, Lethal Lady will be put on display outside the entrance to the Air Guard Base in South Burlington or at the entrance to National Guard Headquarters at Camp Johnson in Colchester.

The photos on this page were taken on November 14, 2008 by the author.