A retired F-16 fighter will soon grace the base entrance of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth. The static display is made possible through the donations of local businesses and community groups, reports Duluth’s WDIO TV news station. The F-16 will be angled to look as if it’s getting ready to take off. Work on the display will begin in a few weeks and is expected to take about two months to finish. The wing operates F-16 Block 50 aircraft, having swapped out its older F-16 Block 25s for the newer airframes.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.