Three command pilots from the U.S. Air Force’s 159th Fighter Wing (FW), Louisiana Air National Guard, have recently logged significant F-15 flying milestones, marking a proud moment for the unit based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.
Col. David “Ripper” Anderson achieved a remarkable 3,000 flight hours in the F-15 Eagle on May 10, after completing a routine training mission. Family members and fellow Airmen gathered to celebrate as Anderson landed his fighter jet. Anderson stands out as the only current pilot in the 159th to have flown 3,000 hours and joins an elite group in the unit’s history to reach this prestigious milestone. “I am extremely appreciative for the opportunity to fly the F-15C over the past 20 years,” said Anderson. He also credited the maintenance, logistics, and support Airmen for ensuring combat-ready aircraft, enabling more than two thousand sorties to safely reach 3,000 hours.
This past Spring, Lt. Col. Joshua “Tito” Higgins, deputy commander, 159 FW, reached 2,000 hours in the F-15 Eagle during a training mission at NAS JRB New Orleans. “It was an amazing experience as it was a culmination of all the hours of the various variants of the F-15 that I’ve flown,” said Higgins. Looking ahead, Higgins is eager to fly the newest Boeing F-15EX, as the 159 FW prepares to transition to the new fighter.
Earlier this year, in January, Lt. Col. Cody “Viking” Clark, commander, 159th Operations Group, achieved 2,000 flight hours while deployed with the 159 FW in Okinawa, Japan. Clark was supporting PACAF TSP operating out of the 67th Fighter Squadron. “I was honoured to be able to log my 2000th Eagle hour at Kadena AB, Okinawa Japan while deployed in support of our PACAF TSP operating out of the 67th Fighter Squadron,” said Clark, noting the location was where he logged his first operational flight hour in the F-15C nearly 15 years prior.
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