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Maintainers at the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, recently handed off the first F-16 to undergo an upgrade that promises to make the fleet operational beyond 2020. The revamped F-16, redelivered to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, is part of the Structural Augmentation Road Map program, or Falcon STAR. The Falcon STAR program involves modifying thirteen different structural components, including wing fittings, and reworking skin areas. Falcon STAR modifications are applied to existing aircraft and added to all new F-16s to compensate for aircraft stress caused by increased-usage rates and heavier gross weights. Once modified, the aircraft will meet its designed service life of 8,000 flight hours.
Photo By Staff Sgt. Brett Ewald
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