Any FighterSweep fans in the Boise, Idaho area? If so, you’re in for a treat this summer! The Civil Engineering squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base will be resurfacing the runway, so for three weeks up to 54 Boeing F-15 Strike Eagles will be relocating to Gowen Field in Boise.
Residents of Boise can expect louder than normal jet noise, as well as greater frequency, than what they routinely experience with the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt IIs of the Idaho Air National Guard. Nothing like the “Sound of Freedom,” courtesy of Pratt & Whitney and General Electric afterburning turbofans, right?!
In addition to moving the aircraft, about 800 personnel from Mountain Home’s 366th Operations Group will commute to Boise each day for flight operations, which are scheduled tentatively from August 2-24. The 366th will be working out of facilities currently not in use by the Air Guard, needing the ramp space and buildings for maintenance activities, aircrew flight equipment, and other basic needs for flight operations.
A Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle from the 389 FS returns to park at Mountain Home AFB after a late-day DCA sortie.
The 389 FS “Thunderbolts,” 391 FS “Bold Tigers,” and 428 FS “Buccaneers”–a joint USAF/RSAF unit flying F-15SGs, are the three units affected most by the runway repairs. Even though the press release mentions August, F-15Es have been parked on the ramp at Gowen for the past couple of weeks, so the transition is already underway. If you have the opportunity to go out and take a look, please do so! I’m sure the Gunfighters would enjoy seeing the support!