CONTACT: Major Jeff Brown, 315-663-8734

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Feb 20, 2010

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE (02/19/20100--Aircrews and F-16-C Fighting Falcon aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing will mark their final scheduled fly-by in support of the AHL's first outdoor hockey game between the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators at the New York State Fairgrounds on February 20, 2010 at 1 p.m. After 22 years of flying the F-16 from Hancock Field, the 174th Fighter Wing is in the process of converting to the remotely piloted aircraft MQ-9 Reaper. "Thank You" to all the people who've supported us all these years. It's been a privilege to fly the F-16 here in Syracuse", said Lt. Col. Sean McQuaid one of the pilots who will perform the unit's last scheduled F-16 fly-by. For many decades, the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing has supported military fly-bys from the New York State Fair to this year's opening of the new Yankee Stadium. The 174th Fighter Wing will stop flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon the first week of March. The 174th Fighter Wing was formed on October 28, 1947 as the first post World War II Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. Through the unit's 60+ year history, it has flown the P-47D Thunderbolt, F-84B Thunderjet, F-86H Sabre Jet, A-10 Warthog and F-16 Fighting Falcon. As of December 1st 2009, the unit was the first Air National Guard unit to fly continuous combat operations with the MQ-9 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to create your own news and distribute it in minutes? Sign up now! News From New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs Contact Information Major Jeff Brown, 315-663-8734 Share this News Print Email Click here to embed this news release on your own website. Related Media F-16C of the 174th Fighter Wing Recent News 827th Engineer Company Soldiers Depart for Training Before Deploying to Afghanistan 174th Fighter Wing Conducts Final F-16 Fly-By For Inaugural Outdoor AHL Hockey Game Walton-Based Soldiers Mobilize for Duty in Afghanistan Buffalo Area Soldiers Mobilize For Afghan Mission 827th Engineer Company Mobilizes for Duty in Afghanistan Soldiers of the 152nd Engineer Support Company Mobilize for Duty in Afghanistan New York Air National Guard Crew Flies Water Into Haiti New York Army National Guard Sergeant May Get Race Named in His Honor New York Air National Guard Airmen Fly Relief Missions Into Haiti Long Island Air National Guard Members Train at Guantanamo Bay Clifton Park Resident Picked to Lead New York National Guard Available to Press Read more news from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs...

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