SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The last two F-16s operated by the New York Air
National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing were sent off by about 2,000 Airmen,
family members and friends here March 6, marking the wing's final transition
to MQ-9 Reaper operations.
Col. Kevin Bradley, the wing commander, and his wingman, Lt. Col. Dan Tester,
took off on the final flight at 3:15 p.m., marking the climax of the
emotional sendoff ceremony that ended 63 years of fighter operations at the
base.
Tester was the first to takeoff, followed moments later by Bradley. They made
three passes over the facility, including a pass over the assembled group,
which had spilled onto the ramp area outside the hangar.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the adjutant general of New York, reminded the
Airmen and their families that the event was a celebration of the 174th's
future.
"Today should not be a moment of sadness as I have spoken to Air Force and
Air National Guard leaders about the dwindling piloted aircraft," Murphy
said. "Thanks to your leadership this unit is one of the most, if not the
most, current unit in the Air National Guard with these unmanned aerial
vehicles."
"The F-16 has been an outstanding aircraft for the unit, but it is just a
machine. It has been the airmen of the 174th Fighter Wing that has made up
this mission since 1988 and will continue to do so into the future," Bradley
told the crowd.
After Bradley and Tester completed their final pass overhead they headed
north to the 174th Forward Operating Location on Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field
located at Ft. Drum, N.Y. The airspace over Fort Drum has served as the
training space for the 174th for many years as well as other aircraft from
all over the Northeast. It will continue to be utilized by other units for
their training requirements as well as the unit's new MQ-9 mission in the
future.
When Bradley and Tester landed they were greeted by family, friends and unit
members who congratulated them on their final flight, as well as their part
in the end of an era.
The 174FW has been flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon since 1988, amassing more
than 70,000 flying hours and has flown jet aircraft for more than 60 years.
The wing began flying MQ-9 Reaper combat patrols over Afghanistan in 2009 and
also operates an MQ-9 maintenance training school for the Air Force.