Multiple F-16s Fighting Falcons from units around the nation descended upon Edwards Air Force Base, California to partake in Falcon Rejoin 50, Jan. 25, 2024, in celebration of the F-16's first flight.
Of course, the vision and commitment of General Dynamics to design such a fighter, is where ultimate gratitude must be given. USAF did put together a rigorous test program for the jet. I worked on the PIRA and the F-16 hit lots of targets. Making way for the "Swiss Army Knife" of fighter jets...
Thank you while at headquarters my former husband John T Carpenter was a crew chief on the experimental F 16. He flew as a flight engineer once. He said he know knew why the officers got paid the big bucks. He went onto write books about his career and our marriage. We were separated during 911 and divorced . I am the original Savannah from Nicholas Sparks. From an early age I loved air planes. I would go to Martin air field and watch the bi planes. I was about three at the time my father would take me to Wright Patterson and I went to Sandusky where the Wright brothers flew and kitty hawk. My mom worked on the movie the wizard of Oz as a child which is the movie for the first in flight. The actual first in flight. While in Calif I had the unique opportunity to raise two descendants of Toto the actual dog in the movie. I did meet Bob barker. I have a dog which looks incredible like Timmy my previous cairn terrier. The wizard of Oz was about also a little lost girl. We went to the poppy fields in Calif and saw the movie set in Vegas. It was amazing. I taught school groups for nasa. Preschool and flew in the simulator. We got to go to Hollywood and see the set of Et and Star Trek. We got to see the space shuttle land. I had gone to space camp as a child and saw the shuttle before it took off. I got to see the mine which was directly behind our house where borax was mined for the shuttle. We toured the entire state driving the pacific coast hwy. I went to see the Golden Gate Bridge where my father had served. My children were Air Force they called them brats…. Sarah would sit on her fathers knee and watch the stars. During a metier shower her brother was conceived and a year later her sister. John T Carpenter was a crew chief and and author. He is definitely to be remembered for his work on this amazing jet. The f 16 is fast and I can vouch for this. When I was alone with the kids in the desert and expecting John wanted to bring an f 16 in and land and help us kids it’s fast. They had to use a helicopter for search and rescue that day. But the F 16 was faster. There just was no where to land. John was on the other side of the world when he found out Erin was due. I go by my artist name now and I’m still with the govt. we are safe. Thank you we owe our lives to the govt. and to Edwards Afb.
Wright Patterson I studied at as a child with my father who served in Pearl Harbor as a navy chief petty officer. Dad had no experience in combat. He found himself at a young age on a navy ship . He was one of the first to sign up to serve. He was with the Catholic Church and his mother and father had lived in Austria during World War One. Dad was in love with Mom who was related to Woodrow Wilson. So dad was the first to know the war was coming. Dad originally signed up for the army. He went into the navy because he could swim. When he found himself at Pearl Harbor his ship served admirably. They fired I think 500 rounds and he got scrap mail in him. Dad would support me in my education. I wanted to join the service so I took the army entrance exam. I would go onto to serve at Fort Knox. I was with John prior to his years of service at Edwards. He switched from army to Air Force. We moved to Shaw then to edwards and back to Shaw. I got to serve behind the scenes in family support family services family advocacy sir man attic and base locator. I got to teach the school groups also. I’m Glad to see there’s programs with the Air Force wives.
