F-16 'Green Lightning' preserved Trapani
August 2022, saw the appearance of a new gate guard at Trapani–Birgi Airport, which is a military air base and public airport in Sicily, Italy. The gate guard in question is a General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon with Matricola Militare (military registration) MM7240 (msn M22-5/61-403).
It is painted in a special '18° Gruppo Green Lightning' colour scheme, which found its origin in 2009. On 8 June 2009, Major Maurizio “Masa” De Angelis, commander of the Trapani Air Base based 18° Gruppo, celebrated his 1,000 flight hours on the F-16.
This particular General Dynamics F-16 was part of the of 34 F-16 fighter jets provided to the Aeronautica Militare (ItAF, Italian Air Force) under a programme known as Peace Caesar, with the first deliveries in 2003. The Aeronautica Militare chose the leased F-16 option as the most cost-effective solution to replace its aging fleet of Panavia Tornado and Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. Also four non-flyable F-16s were supplied for generation of spare parts.
F-16A MM7240 saw an extensive life with quite an interesting history. Built by General Dynamics as 81-0722 in its Forth Worth plant (TX), it was delivered on 12 November 1982 to the United States Air Force. It served with various units, including the Air National Guard.
Most European spotters will remember the Viper as '81-0722/HR', flying from roughly November 1982 to April 1986, with the United States Air Force Europe 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany.
After a total refurbishment at Hill AFB (UT), it was delivered in 2004 to the Aeronautica Militare, flying with the 18° Gruppo at Trapani-Birgi. After June 2011, it was put in storage, only to be revealed right now in these colours.
Photo: Silvano Mainini with thanks to Daniele Mattiuzzo