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[Joezie]

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/iraqi-pilot-killed-in-f-16-fighter-crash-in-arizona-1.486212

The Iraqi air force on Wednesday identified a pilot killed in a training accident this week in the United States, where the U.S. military is training the country’s pilots to take on Islamic State.

Maj. Noor Faleh Rassan Al-Khazali was killed when he crashed an F-16 he was piloting Tuesday afternoon in Arizona, the Iraqi military said in a statement.

The Iraq-owned fighter jet, based at the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing at the Tucson International Airport, crashed about 20 miles northwest of the town of Safford, Ariz., a wing spokeswoman said in a statement. The wing, one of the Air National Guard’s largest with a fleet of more than 70 F-16s and nearly 1,500 personnel, is home to a program that has trained pilots from more than 25 countries flying the F-16, according to its fact sheet.

Iraqi pilots started training at the base in late 2012. The military did not immediately respond to questions about how many Iraqi pilots are currently training in the United States.

Per article, investigations into the crash are currently underway. RIP to the Pilot.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Damn. 3rd in the last 2 years? Were the other 2 crashes pilot error or mechanical? F-16 is getting pretty long in the tooth, no?

 

[Prinz Eugn]

Damn. 3rd in the last 2 years? Were the other 2 crashes pilot error or mechanical? F-16 is getting pretty long in the tooth, no?

This would have been a new-build F-16I, so only a few years old.

Pictures at this article (no gore, but scary crater).

 

[Joezie]

Damn. 3rd in the last 2 years? Were the other 2 crashes pilot error or mechanical? F-16 is getting pretty long in the tooth, no?

Not sure on the former. As to the 16, since Iraq operates it the plane is only a few years old at best, per Prinz above.

The US owned F-16's and planes in general though tend to be older than the pilots flying them.

 

[Preezy]

Not sure what the point of this thread is other than to say RIP Mr Pilot Man.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

RIP

F-16 is getting pretty long in the tooth, no?

They are still building new F-16s but as far as the system in general, the F14 was 4 years older and they retired that in 2006 due to age and maintenance costs/time.

 

[One Eyed Willy]

RIP