and from the ANG,” according to Niki. With
59 F-16AMs left in its inventory, the RNLAF
can easily manage to keep five single-seaters
at Tucson as long-time ‘residents’. But since
more than half of the RNLAF’s remaining nine
F-16BMs are based in the US – which fly more
often than the Netherlands-based ’BMs – two-
seaters have been swapped several times
over the years in order to balance the flying
hours across the fleet as evenly as possible.
The future
The RNLAF will make the transition from
the F-16 to the F-35A in the next five years.
Inevitably, this has consequences for the
RNLAF presence at Tucson as well. Delivery
of the first two F-35As to Leeuwarden
Air Base, home of 322 Tactical Training,
Evaluation and Standardisation Squadron
(TACTESS), is scheduled for late next year.
The type should reach initial operational
capability (IOC) within the RNLAF by the
end of 2021, and full operational capability
(FOC) by 2024. Current plans call for a fleet
of 37 F-35As, with the final three arriving
in the Netherlands in 2023. The last F-16s
will be withdrawn from service by 2025.
The focus of the RNLAF will initially be
on converting current F-16 pilots to the
F-35A. The first operational Dutch pilots
will complete their conversion at the
international Pilot Training Center (PTC)
within the 56th FW at Luke AFB, Arizona,
next year. Delivery of six RNLAF F-35As to
Luke is scheduled to begin early next year.
Both Edwards-based F-35As will relocate
to Luke once the OT&E flying programme
is concluded in late 2019/early 2020,
making eight Dutch F-35As available
to the PTC. By 2023, all the F-16 pilots
selected to fly the F-35A will be converted.
Meanwhile, freshly trained RNLAF fighter
pilots will start joining the PTC at Luke.
The number of Luke-based RNLAF
F-35As is expected to drop to five in
2023 – the other three jets will transfer to
operational squadrons in the Netherlands.
Current plans anticipate that Dutch F-16
schooling at Tucson will continue until 2022.
This should give the RNLAF enough pilots to
fly the last F-16s until their retirement. Dutch
F-16 pilot education in Arizona will then come
to an end after more than three decades.Above: Instructor and IQT student prepare for an air combat mission in one of the briefing rooms in the
148th FS squadron building. IQT at Tucson takes nine months. Back in the Netherlands, newly trained
F-16 pilots join one of the three operational F-16 squadrons. Kees van der Mark Left: The Dutch F-16s
frequently use a braking parachute to avoid overheating the brakes, particularly on hot days, which are
the norm in southern Arizona. At Tucson, the ANG employs over 1,400 people and it has more than 80
aircraft assigned. Kees van der MarkAFMhttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #361 APRIL 2018 // 85