Monday, January 28, 2019

Vermont Air Guard Says Last Of F-16s To Depart In April

A 158th Fighter Wing F-16 soars into the blue during a two-week training the Vermont Air National Guard conducted in Alpena Mich. July 16, 2013. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by A1C Jon Alderman)



158th Fighter Wing Air National Guard officials have announced that the last of the Vermont Air Guard’s F-16s will depart the base in April. Colonel David Smith says the F-16s 32-year history in Vermont ANG will end in April 2019. 

WCAX-TV Channel 3 in South Burlington reports at that point, the last of the Guard's planes will move to another Air Guard base. The first of the F-16s arrived at the base back in 1986. Smith says planes have been slowly sent away from the base over the past 12 months, and the Guard is working on a celebration for the F-16 send-off in April. Officials say the base is preparing for the arrival of F-35s in September.