CONUS based Fighting Falcons next for Polish WZL-2

On 8 November 2023, aviation friend and Aviano aircraft spotter ZeroOtto saw a blended mix of four USAF F-16Cs arriving at Aviano Air Base in the northern part of Italy.

It was stated that the Fighting Falcons were transiting Aviano towards Spangdahlem Air Base (Germany) with the final destination being Bydgoszcz Airport (Poland). On 17 November 2022, Scramble Magazine first wrote about USAF F-16s receiving a Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) at the Wojskowe Zaklady Lotnicze Nr.2 (WZL2) in Bydgoszcz.

Being part of an industrial offset agreement between the USA and Poland, it was believed that mainly F-16s from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano and the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem would be involved in the SLEP. Scramble has now learned that for the foreseeable future more Continental United States (CONUS) based F-16s will be brought to Europe to receive the required SLEP.

The following mix of F-16Cs were noted transiting Aviano:
88-0481/HO 311th FS/ 54th FG, 89-2015/WA 16th WPS/ USAF Weapons School, 90-0731/OH 112th FS/ 180th FW and 91-0394/SW 55th FS/ 20th FW.

Credit photos: ZeroOtto on Scramble Messageboard