On the fenceline...... welcome the Dutch back to Tucson!

On Monday 20DEC2010 the Royal Netherlands Air Force RNLAF (a.k.a. the Dutch) resumed flight operations at Tucson Int'l. Airport, Arizona after a 3-year hiatus. Arrival of the General Dynamics F-16A/B MLU aircraft began last month and after a short bed-down period they are back in the air. They are hosted by the 162nd Fighter Wing, a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard that is tasked with providing international forces flying the F-16 with flight training and support. Total number of aircraft will be 14 for the unit.

RNLAF are no strangers to the mountainous desert terrain in southern Arizona. From 1989 to 2007 Dutch crews trained here until a 3-year stint with the 178th fighter Wing at Springfield, Ohio took place. Now back in the desert, the Dutch Vipers will again operate in the heat and strength-sapping conditions that accompany the excellent flying conditions present in Tucson. Though the aircraft are mostly 1980's vintage Falcons they have gone through the Mid-Life Update MLU process with the avionics and cockpit instrumentation on-par with the modern Block 50 versions.

Welkom terug tot Tucson!