Kunsan Gets More Block 40s:

The 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan AB, South Korea, last week received the last batch of its Block 40 F-16s. The squadron received its first F-16s under the Common Configuration Implementation Program last fall, enabling the squadron to train about 80 percent of its pilots in the CCIP aircraft, which have avionics upgrades, a modular mission computer, and the joint helmet-mounted cueing system. Lt. Col. Shane Riza, director of operations for the 80th FS, noted, too, that the early arrival of some of the Block 40 F-16s provided time for maintainers to learn the differences from the unit’s Block 30 F-16s, which are slated to go to Eielson AFB, Alaska for the Red Flag-Alaska aggressor force. Riza said of the Kunsan maintainers, “They’ve done a fantastic job keeping those [block 40] jets flying before the support structure and logistics system for block-specific parts caught up to us here at the tip of the spear.” (Kunsan report by SSgt. Araceli Alarcon)