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Video by Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

Dutch F-16 First International Aircraft for National Guard Paint Facility

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

Feb. 9, 2012 | 2:27

When representatives of the Royal Netherlands Air Force went looking for a cost effective way to paint some of their fighter aircraft, they found not only a solution at the Air National Guard Paint Facility, but ended up with a work of art. Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot tells about the first international Aircraft that was recently finished at the Air National Guard Paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa. Tucked away at the end of the air field of the 185th Air National Guard Base in Sioux City, Iowa the Air National Guard’s aircraft paint facility has been painting small fighter aircraft for a little more than a decade now. The F-16 they are rolling out today may look ordinary at first glance but it is the first international aircraft to be painted here. Font Hit: Dave Miller National Guard Paint Facility Manager The thing that makes it unique is that is it’s an international job, it’s a good start for our facility in terms of providing additional services not just for guard aircraft but to international aircraft and potentially to the regular air force. This F-16, from the Royal Netherlands Air Force 148th Fighter Squadron, is temporarily stationed at the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona National Guard as part of the F-16 Falcon Pilot training program in Tucson. A little more than two weeks ago this F-16 arrived in Sioux City a little worse for the ware. Lt Col Maurice Schomk (Shunk) is the detachment commander for the 148th. FONT Hit: Lt. Col. Maurice Schomk Detachment Commander Royal Netherlands Air Force So we brought it in here and I saw those faces and they were like, wow what are we going to make out of this? And now coming back here it looks like a brand new jet. FONT: MSgt Vincent De Groot 185th ARW Public Affairs The most feared enemy of all fighter aircraft are corrosion and decay, the technicians here at the paint facility see these natural process first hand. So, while the fighter jet looks much better when it’s done it is also significantly prolongs the life of the aircraft. The main painting process done here is called Scuff, Sand and Paint. This method allows a quick turn around and costs roughly a third of what it would cost to strip the entire aircraft; Maj Jos Oudshoorn (Yos Outshoorn) is the maintenance commander for the 148th. FONT Hit: Major Jos Oudshoorn Maintenance Commander Royal Netherlands Air Force Amazing, I am really happy to see the end product, this will keep the jets in good shape for the next years to come. The Netherlands Air Force has several aircraft in Tucson and plans to paint their remaining aircraft here in Sioux City over the next several months. At the Air National Guard base in Sioux City, Iowa I’m Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot; Air Force News.

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ANGSioux CityRNAFPaint FacilityIowaAir National Guard

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