On 29th of July 2022, the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force)
celebrated the end of an era: they flew their last RNLAF F-16 Fighting Falcons
at Tucson International Airport (AZ), culminating a 32-years international training relationship.
The F-16s were operated by the 148th Fighter Squadron Kickin’ Ass at the Arizona Air Base. The Dutch were the first in a long line of foreign partners to train at Morris ANG Base – Tucson International Airport (United Arab Emirates Air Force another example), graduating four student pilots every nine months.
In 1985, the 148th was redesignated as the 148th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron
and was assigned to the 162d Tactical Fighter Training Group at Tucson International Airport (AZ).
The 148th TFTS was tasked with pilot training for the foreign air forces as part of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, although the squadron has also been tasked with training F-16 crew for the USAF and the Air National Guard.
Through the years numerous countries have detached personnel to receive advanced training by the squadron.
The first to make use of these was the RNLAF, on May 1995 RNLAF F-16 had left Tucson for their native country.
A new contract with the KLu started in 2010 with the first RNLAF F-16 arrive in Tucson. The first class of about ten pilots graduated in late April 2011.
The fighter jets deployed in the US have been sold to Draken International to act as red air forces in adversary training.
Source: www.scramble.nl