Over the past year, cracks have been identified in the canopy sill longerons (CSLs) of 90 F-16s across the entire U.S. Air Force inventory. These cracks can potentially ground aircraft and necessitate depot-level repairs, impacting operational readiness.
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 120th Fighter Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard painted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the unit flies over Pike National Forest, Colorado, May 8, 2023. Today the ÒREDEYESÓ of the120th are a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA), OCA Interdiction, Close Air Support (CAS), and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew)
