this aircraft was written after it exploded off Beale AFB on 7 August 1996. Photographer unknown

The squadron bird of the "Ironman" returning to its parking spot after a Northern Lightning 2017 sortie. The 71st Fighter Training Squadron flew the Talon from 2015 to 2021. Its mission was to conduct adversarial air training for the F-22sflown by the other squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing. This training was previously performed by F-22s of the 27th Fighter Squadron at substantially more expense. In 2021 the squadron became a paper unit and was reactivated as a F-22A squadron in 2023.

This black Talon has quite a history. It started as a advanced jet trainer, moved to AMARG with inventory code AA TF0300 from 9 Mar'95 to 13 May'99, returned to Randolph and was selected for lease to South Korea. After that period, it returned to AMARG on 6 Jan'10 with inventory code AA TF0380. Returned to service on 23 Mar'11 and was first moved to Holloman's 49th FW, then to Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing and later to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB (VA). Moved to the 71st Fighter Training Squadron 'Ironman' at the same base (as pictured). Traded in its black c/s for a heritage c/s

It continues to be a weird colorscheme, that Have Glass 5. From different angles, it looks always different. This is clearly seen by both Fighting Falcons on this picture. If you touch the Gave Glass scheme, it feels a little like sandpaper or glass paper... the latter referring to the scheme which is reportedly on the F-16CM radar absorbing material.

A Bulldogs pictured during its aerodynamic landing at homebase Duluth. The aircraft is loaded with practice munition (blue color), on the wingtips AMRAAMs, and underneath the wings you can identify Sidewinders and HARMs.

Rolling down the taxiway of Duluth, this Have Glass 5 coloured F-16CM belongs to the 179th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed Bulldogs.

This is really 79-0364. The F-16A was delivered to the USAF on 20 January 1981 and served the 388th TFW in Hill (UT), the 363rd TFW in Shaw (FL), the 56th TTW in Moody (FL), the 184th TFG in McConnell (KS) and eventually the 162nd FW in Tucson (AZ). It is preserved at Duluth since July 2017 and carries the fake serial 79-148, referring to the 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard.

This really is 52-1066. Chateauroux to Athens and was forced down by Yugoslavia Air Force fighters. Plane and crew were held until after some diplomatic negotiations when they were released to return to Chateauroux. 19 Sep '74: Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, for storage. 27 Aug '75: Flown to the Air Force Museum. It is displayed as 51-135 of 756th Military Airlift Squadron/909th Military Airlift Group (Andrews AFB).

Tony Lloyd image