FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18.
The jets made a pass over a crowd of National Guard members and civilians who had assembled in front of the 144th Fighter Wing's maintenance hangar on the Fresno Air National Guard Base. One of the jets was a single-engine F-16C Fighting Falcon. Flying beside it was a larger, dual-engine F-15 Eagle - the first of 21 slated to arrive from Montana.
The F-15s are replacing the 144th Fighter Wing's F-16s, which have been flying a homeland defense mission out of Fresno since 1989. As the F-15s arrive, the F-16s will depart for Arizona, where they will be used for training.
"We're going to miss the F-16. There's not a fighter that we've had nearly as long," 144th Fighter Wing antiterrorism officer Lt. Col. Dave Johnston said. "But the arrival of the F-15 means we have the right aircraft for the mission. From a capabilities standpoint, it's much better suited for the role. It's big. It's got a lot of power. Its radar is exponentially better. It can do things the F-16 can't."
The 144th Fighter Wing's mission is to provide air defense for the West Coast of the United States as well as air superiority in support of worldwide operations.
When the wing first arrived in Fresno in 1954, it flew P-51 Mustangs. The F-15 is the eighth type of fighter flown by the wing.
"The F-16 has been a pleasure to fly," said Lt. Col. Ron Schrieber, who flew F-16s for the wing for nearly 10 years. "But the F-15 represents a step forward in our capability."
"It's got tremendous power, great maneuverability and incredible firepower," added pilot Lt. Col. Rob Swertfager.
The pilot who flew the F-15 over the crowd June 18, Maj. Jon Burd, taxied in front of the maintenance hangar and parked it next to an F-16 and a P-51. He then shut down the F-15's engines and opened the cockpit canopy to cheers from the crowd.
"It's been a long time coming," he said of the F-15’s arrival. "It's a beautiful day. It couldn't have been more perfect."
The future of the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno had been uncertain until recently. The Fresno base had been considered for closure, but with the F-15 projected to be a viable air defense asset through 2025, the wing's mission in Fresno appears secure for the foreseeable future.
The wing’s transition to the F-15 has been years in the making. The wing's pilots and mechanics have been training on the new airframe and have been gearing up to make the switch after more than two decades of working with F-16s.
Chief Master Sgt. Cameron Williams, a maintenance superintendent, said the crew chiefs who maintain the aircraft are upbeat and excited about the transition.
"It's a new aircraft to learn, a new system," he said. "It's time to shake things up a bit."
Senior Airman Raymon Figuerora, a crew chief who has been working on F-16s since joining the wing in 2008, said he looks forward to working on the new fighters.
"Some people work on one aircraft their whole career, but now I can say I've worked on two," he said. "The F-15 is a bigger aircraft, a lot more work, but that's not a bad thing. You have more of a challenge and you've got to push yourself to meet more goals."
In remarks to the crowd, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearingen said the city is fortunate to have the wing based there. The wing brings jobs to the community and provides a substantial and positive impact on the local economy, she said.
"This is a day we have all been waiting for, and it is long overdue," Swearingen said. "Congratulations, 144th Fighter Wing. We are proud of you."
Wing Commander Col. Clay Garrison also addressed the crowd, beaming with excitement at the arrival of the F-15.
"Behind me is over 70 years of American combat power," he said, referring to the F-15, F-16 and P-51. "Men and women of the 144th Fighter Wing, I give you your future - the F-15."