F-16 retired after logging 7,200 flight hours

[unhappycamper]

‘Lethal Lady’ flies last mission
Jet’s career included 1,000 hours over Iraq


F-16 retired after logging 7,200 flight hours
Staff and wire reports
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 16:36:44 EST

The first single-seat F-16 Fighting Falcon to reach 7,000 flying hours is on the ground for good.

The Vermont Air National Guard jet, nicknamed Lethal Lady, flew its last mission Nov. 14. By the time the jet landed, it had logged 7,200 hours, including 1,000 hours over Iraq.

Lethal Lady, tail number 83-1165, reached the 7,000-hour mark in March.

The 25-year-old jet flew 42 missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before being turned over to another Air National Guard unit. It was sent to Vermont in 1994.

It has patrolled the skies over the East Coast, helped keep Saddam Hussein’s air force on the ground and provided air support for fighting Marines.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_f16_retires_111708w/%2e

[DrDan]

1. those early A and B models cost around $15M each

so guess that works out to around $2,100 per hour excluding the operational costs.

Compared to a F-35, that is a real bargain. An F-35 with a life of 7200 hours would cost around $28,000 per hour - excluding the significantly higher operational costs.