T?he New York National Guard recently inaugurated a combat-veteran F-16A, now on display outside the state’s Guard joint forces headquarters in Latham, N. Y. The former 174th Fighter Wing jet, serial number 80-0504, flew combat in Operation Desert Storm, as one of only two ANG F-16 units flying close air support, according to a release. The aircraft is displayed alongside an Army National Guard AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter and M-1A1 Abrams tank. “Now it’s going to sit on display where people can see it every day and it serves as a signature symbol of the Air National Guard here at the headquarters,” said CMSgt. Mark Shearer. The “Boys from Syracuse” flew their last F-16 sortie from Hancock Field in March 2010, when the wing became the 174th Attack Wing and converted to MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. The unit retained the airframe as a weapons-load trainer even after upgrading to the F-16C in the early 1990s.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…