Guard F-16s to operate out of Davis-Monthan

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  • By 082707
Tucson Air National Guard Base, Ariz. --  The Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing will deploy 30 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from Sept. 4 to Oct. 1 while the main runway at Tucson International Airport is closed for maintenance. 

This final phase of construction on the airport runway is expected to complete the maintenance project that started in September, 2006. 

The wing will fly no more than 14 days during its stay at D-M, which could be cut short if construction at TIA finishes early. Guard F-16's will not fly weekends or at night during this period.

"The 355th Fighter Wing has an outstanding relationship with the Arizona Air National Guard," said 355th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Kent Laughbaum. "We have planned for their deployment to D-M with exacting detail, and the guard F-16s will comply with all of D-M's new traffic pattern and noise abatement procedures." 

The Arizona Air National Guard plays a vital role in training F-16 pilots, and its partnership with D-M will ensure it can continue this important mission.