When did VFC-13 get F-16Cs?

[SERNAK]

Hello gents,

 

Have a look at this photo from Alamy (https://www.alamy.com/fallon-nevada-feb-13-2024-cmdr-ausitn-coovert-outgoing-commanding-officer-delivers-remarks-during-a-change-of-command-for-fighter-squadron-composite-13-vfc-13-at-naval-air-station-fallon-feb-9-2024-home-to-the-fighting-saints-of-fighter-squadron-composite-13-vfc-13-and-the-naval-aviation-warfare-development-command-nawdc-nas-fallon-serves-as-the-navys-premier-tactical-air-warfare-training-center-navy-image600993049.html?imageid=AC6716B0-FDB4-4BAB-A356-DE208842CC3E&p=2321443&pn=1&searchId=5fce7a00e42d10a3a6be3ae9797d32a3&searchtype=0).

 

When did VFC-13 get F-16Cs? Or was this single F-16C painted only for the ceremony?

[airmechaja]

Bad Link

[southwestforests]

Wouldn't be meant to be one of these photos would it?

Found via playing in Google,

 

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8238721/vfc-13-holds-change-command

 

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8238719/vfc-13-holds-change-command

Edited October 20, 2024 by southwestforests

[southwestforests]

Just found this,

 

Quote

-The Navy’s Tactical Support Wing initially explored purchasing used F-16s from Greece but encountered complications.

-Instead, it capitalized on the Air Force’s retirement of over 30 F-16s with significant service life remaining.

-These aircraft are now being used in the Navy Reserve’s new F-16 squadron, VFC-13, for dissimilar air combat training (DACT).

 

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/us-navy-just-received-fleet-f-16-fighters-us-air-force-212658

 

Quote

September 9, 2024 

The U.S. Navy has acquired additional F-16 Fighting Falcons from the U.S. Air Force to replace retiring legacy F/A-18 Hornets used for adversary combat training.
by Peter Suciu 
Summary and What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy has acquired additional F-16 Fighting Falcons from the U.S. Air Force to replace retiring legacy F/A-18 Hornets used for adversary combat training.

 

Edited October 20, 2024 by southwestforests

[southwestforests]

Another reference find,

 

Quote

Taken during the change of command of Fleet Composite Squadron (VFC) 13 Fighting Saints that took place in late November/early December 2022, the picture in this post was used to officially introduce the F-16 Fighting Falcon into service with the unit.

Actually VFC-13 (‘AF-xx’) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, NV, is in the process of fully transitioning from the F-5N Tiger II to the F-16C Block 32 Fighting Falcon.

According to Scramble Magazine, the Viper featured in the picture is F-16C BuNo 860279. The aircraft became the Commander’s aircraft and is coded AF-13. Apart from showing colour on this fighter, which was previously operated by the 195th Fighter Squadron (AZ ANG) at Tucson/International Airport (AZ), is also adorned with the Have Glass V paint scheme. 

 

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/vfc-13-fighting-saints-bids-farewell-to-the-f-5-tiger-ii-and-transitions-to-the-f-16-fighting-falcon/

 

Quote

VFC-13 will operate twelve F-16C Block 32 fighters and the unit’s F-5N Tiger IIs will primarily be used to re-equip Fleet Composite Squadron (VFC) 204 River Rattlers (‘AF-4xx’) at Naval Air Station / Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, LA, that currently flies the F/A-18 legacy Hornet.

As already reported the US Navy started to receive F-16 Vipers retired by the US Air Force and US Air National Guard as part of the plan to increase its adversary air capabilities. The US Navy is set to receive a total of 20 single-seat Block 32 F-16Cs and 6 two-seat Block 25 F-16Ds.

Next to the Saints, Fallon’s Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) will receive eight F-16C Block 32s and six F-16D Block 25s to replace its remaining legacy Hornets, which will be withdrawn from use. 

 

[Niels]

VFC-13 received their first F-16C's back in 2022; 

View topic - F-16's with VFC-13? • F-16.net

View topic - First Surplus F-16s for USN arrive..... • F-16.net

[SERNAK]

That's the "model" guys! 

 

Do we have any 'intel' about whether these beautiful block-32 ladies wore besides that FS-36118 (I assume it is this dark gray) another colour/paint scheme? And what about Two Bobs or Fightertown Decals, any 'intel' about some new decals' sheets that will cover this 'beautiful lady' and the rest of them? From what I read in one of Niels' links, VFC-13 got quite a few of them.

 

Again, thanks for the links, guys.

[Camus272]

5 hours ago, SERNAK said:

Do we have any 'intel' about whether these beautiful block-32 ladies wore besides that FS-36118 (I assume it is this dark gray) another colour/paint scheme? And what about Two Bobs or Fightertown Decals, any 'intel' about some new decals' sheets that will cover this 'beautiful lady' and the rest of them? From what I read in one of Niels' links, VFC-13 got quite a few of them.

All of them wear the "Atari" scheme, pretty boring.  Even more disappointing, the 706th FS became the newest F-16 aggressor squadron for the Air Force last year, and were set to get a whole range of very cool schemes, but they are now losing their jets.

[SERNAK]

On 10/21/2024 at 7:22 AM, Camus272 said:

All of them wear the "Atari" scheme, pretty boring.  Even more disappointing, the 706th FS became the newest F-16 aggressor squadron for the Air Force last year, and were set to get a whole range of very cool schemes, but they are now losing their jets.

Okay, so how come and the Air Force and its Aggressors always have some truly interesting paint schemes to show us, every now and then (as the Navy adversaries used to do back in the good old days), and why VFC-13 is so obsessed about that dark gray???

 

I mean, even if we look at it from a historical perspective, from the first Skyhawks, VFC-13 used this dark gray, as if it had the best concealment effect in the Californian sky. I don't know, maybe it had, but still when you had VF-126, VFA-127, and NFWS so frequently to try new paint schemes, you would expect from a squadron based in a nearby NAS (if my memory serves me well, I think VC and then VFC-13 was based at NAS Fallon) to follow a similar tactic.

 

Just my two cents.

[phantom]

I think they must have got a good deal at the paint store.

[jbryan911]

Caught this one with a NAWDC tail flash at Oceana July.

[Niels]

If you look at the "Atari" scheme, it is not far off from the Chineese "Shark" scheme. Hence may be artistic licence in the end. 
The point is to make the regular fighter jocks better, and agressors and adversaries will do that 🙂 

[SERNAK]

On 10/22/2024 at 9:09 PM, Niels said:

If you look at the "Atari" scheme, it is not far off from the Chineese "Shark" scheme. Hence may be artistic licence in the end. 
The point is to make the regular fighter jocks better, and agressors and adversaries will do that 🙂 

That's always possible. The knowledge and expertise exists, the "field of action" has changed. Take for example what's happening in Ukraine. There are more UAVs flying missions than manned aircrafts.

 

But back to the topic. It would be nice to have in our collections some 1/48 F-16Cs with those markings/paint schemes. By the way, it's no surprise why VFC-13 chose to re-enlist Block 32 F-16s. It was one of the best dogfighters.

[Niels]

9 hours ago, SERNAK said:

It was one of the best dogfighters.

Still is 🙂