F-16s from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180 Fighter Wing in Toledo are temporarily operating from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, while workers repair the runway at their home station, according to a release. The F-16s arrived at Wright-Patt in mid-month and will remain there for several weeks, using the base’s runways and airspace to maintain mission readiness, said Wright-Patt officials. Lt. Col. Deron Reynolds, 180th FW alert commander, said the F-16 pilots would be ready to defend US airspace, if called upon, while operating from Wright-Patt. Dayton’s WDTN TV news station reported that the F-16s are expected to remain at Wright-Patt until Sept. 8. Wright-Patt is some 140 miles south of the Toledo Express Airport, home of the 180th FW. (Wright-Patt report by Amy Rollins)
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.