Ocean County May Hear F-16s Flying Overhead This Week and Next Week

F-16s from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing. (Photo: NJANG)

The New Jersey Air National Guard squadron will conduct nighttime flight training this and next week, meaning some local residents may hear the tell-tale sound of the single-engine multirole fighter flying overhead.

The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing operates the F-16C/D Flying Falcon (better known as the Viper) from Atlantic City International Airport. The wing is best known for flying homeland security air patrols after the attacks of Sept. 11 between New York and Washington, D.C.

Pilots will be training for night operations Oct. 1-4 and 8-11, 2019, the wing announced on Tuesday.

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“The training flights are designed to help prepare mission-capable, combat-ready Airmen and aircraft for the homeland defense mission and world-wide deployment in support of U.S. Air Force objectives,” the announcement said. “We thank you for your continuing support!”

The New Jersey ANG has operated F-16s, a single-engine, multirole fighter originally manufactured by General Dynamics, since 1988, when the Convair F-106 Delta Dart was retired. There has been a push in recent years to have the wing transition to the new F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.