USAF conducts test flight on stalled F-16

A United States Air Force (USAF) crew working to get a F-16 back into fighting form was finally able to conduct a test flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

Fortunately for the USAF mechanics who flew into the country just to repair the F-16 that made an emergency landing last Nov. 22, the test flight seemed to show no problems.

A new engine was flown in by the USAF to replace the engine of the fully-armed, missile-loaded F-16.

A USAF C-130 carrying the F-16’s replacement engine landed at the NAIA runway last Dec. 8.

Since its emergency landing, the F-16 piloted by Capt. Justin Dupuis had remained at the hangar of the Ages aviation firm while being repaired.

Its escort F-16, piloted by Capt. Seward Matwick, is also at the hangar.

Earlier, mechanics decided that a new engine was needed to bring back the F-16 to good running and fighting condition.

It will be recalled that F-16 from the USAF’s 14th Fighter Wing and piloted by Dupuis surprised people at the NAIA Terminal I when it flew low over NAIA airspace. It made an emergency landing after developing engine trouble while cruising Philippine airspace.

The fighter, bothered by problematic hydraulic systems which affected the performance of its landing gear, ground to a halt several hundred meters after touchdown in the middle of NAIA Runway 06.

Amusingly, MIAA personnel assigned to cut the grass at the NAIA runway grass portions came to the rescue of the F-16, pushing it several hundred meters out of the runway to the hangar of Ages.

As a result of the F-16’s emergency landing, two departing international flights, one of Cathay Pacific going to Hong Kong and China Airlines going to Taipei, were delayed from taking off for several minutes.

An incoming cargo plane of Nippon Airways was also diverted to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.