Subject: Re: (Silly Week 2008) Submission #4
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "S. Robert Sliger II" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:20:09 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: S. Robert Sliger II 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 8:44 PM
  Subject: (Silly Week 2008) Submission #4

  F-16AM Block 24 

  by Bud Sliger
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  F-16AM (blk. 24)

  1776th FS det. A 'Freedom Defenders', DC ANG

  Operation Noble Eagle

  Oct. 2002

  In the aftermath of the events of 9/11 both the Dept. of Defense and the newly-created Dept. of Homeland Security were rushing to get new defense measures installed in and around the country’s major cities. Some argued that the Army's Avenger airspace defense system would be adequate, while others pushed for Patriot batteries and adding new Air National Guard units. The DHS and DoD contracted the Odom group, a leading think-tank organization for the Pentagon, to advise on this decision. One day while doing research at the Pentagon's archives, Dr. Leroy Stenzle came across some of the old material from the ZEL/Mat and ZELL studies done in the '50s and '60's. He concluded that a similar system could be rigged for the F-16 and the forthcoming 'Liberty Defender' fighter (Based on the ATG Javelin mk.30). After much research, Dr. Stenzle concluded that a revived ZEL concept would not only be viable, but very practical. The joint board approved the idea for further R&D under Project Zelda. In December Zelda was approved for Full Scale Development.

   14 newly update F-16As were selected to be converted to Blk. 24 spec. for ZEL operations. Minor modifications were made to the flight control software, the removal of the Barrier arresting hook to facilitate installation of the JATO booster, and 4 support attachment arm anchor points were added to the aft ventral engine housing. 1st modification started in Jan 2002 with both ground and flight testing of the hardware soon afterwards. The 1st test of the new ZEL system took place April 12th at White Sands NM using a remote control F-16A. After a few more unmanned flights the 1st manned Blk. 24 launch took place in May with Col. Sistrunk at the controls. After much testing and refinement the Blk. 24 / ZEL system reached Full Operational Capability in August 2002. 

  The 1st unit to be activated was the 1776th FS, which was attached to the DC ANG in July 2002. They gained FOC in Sept. with 6 F-16s deployed in pairs around the DC area in camouflaged revetments. All Aircraft wear non-standard Camouflage and full color markings, as well as the ONE emblem on the Vert. tail instead of the normal 2 letter USAF base code. Normal armament consists of 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM and 2-4 AIM-9 Sidewinders, plus the M61 Vulcan cannon. While the 1776th is attached to the ANG, both DHS and the DC ANG share control over the operational deployment of Project Zelda. It has been stated that the ZEL mission will pass to DHS when the ATG F-39 Liberty Defender aircraft becomes cleared for ZEL operations.  

  Click on images below to see larger images

         Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 02.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 02.jpg   Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg  

  Photos and text © by 'your name goes here'

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