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While on an Operation Iraqi Freedom mission this summer, aircraft 84-1254 became the first F-16C to surpass the 6,000-flying-hour milestone. Capt. Mark Youens, the pilot on the milestone flight, and the Air National Guard aircraft are assigned to the 147th Fighter Wing at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, but deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad AB, Iraq. When the aircraft was put into service in October 1985, Youens was eleven years old, and the crew chief, SSgt. Andrew Brice, was just seven. Since its arrival in theater May 2005, this aircraft, a Block 25 model, has accrued more than 500 flying hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Photo By SSgt. Chad Chisholm
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