News Releases for February 2006
February 28, 2006
Contacts: Chris Thorne (Conrad) (202) 224-2043; Barry Piatt (Dorgan) (202) 224-1191; Stephanie Craig (Pomeroy) (202)
225-2611; Don Larson (Hoeven) (701) 328-2200
ND Leaders Fight to Keep Hooligans Flying
Fargo's 119th Fighter Wing Likely to Receive C-130 Aircraft While Awaiting New Mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Dakota's congressional delegation and Governor met with top National Guard leaders today to press for new and expanded missions for the 119th Fighter Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard.
In the meeting with Lt. Gen H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Brigadier General Charles Ickes III, Deputy Director of the Air National Guard, the congressional delegation and Governor urged the Pentagon to quickly finalize plans to base Light Cargo Aircraft (LCA) at Fargo's Hector Field. They also received word from the generals that C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft will likely be assigned to Fargo as a temporary flying mission to maintain personnel levels at the base as the Happy Hooligans transition from flying F-16 fighter aircraft to Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the Light Cargo Aircraft.
"While we are eager to get the Hooligans in the virtual cockpits of UAVs, their tremendous flying record indicates they can contribute even more with an additional flying mission. Piloting the Light Cargo Aircraft would be a great fit and we are urging the Guard to base this mission in Fargo," the delegation and Governor said in a joint statement.
In the meeting in Senator Conrad's Capitol Hill office, Generals Blum and Ickes detailed plans to base LCA at Fargo's Hector Field. The planes, which are capable of carrying 50 troops, would be used for both national defense and natural disaster response. General Blum has indicated that the Hooligans are at the head of the line for the LCA, funding for which is requested in the Pentagon's budget for fiscal year 2007.
While pilots from the 119th Fighter Wing are slated to retire their F-16 jets next year, the LCA will not be available until about 2009. Happy Hooligan pilots are expected to begin flying Predator UAVs by the end of 2006 but the difference between the personnel needed for the Predator unit and the F-16 unit could create a temporary reduction in staffing at Hector Field. The delegation and Governor have been fighting for an additional, temporary mission for the Hooligans to ensure there are no personnel cuts between the retirement of the F-16s and the arrival of the LCA.
Responding to the North Dakota leaders' request, the generals detailed an LCA transition plan for Hector Field that includes temporarily stationing four C-130 aircraft at the base. The Air National Guard complex in Fargo will require renovations and new construction to host both the Predator UAVs and the Hercules cargo transports. The President's budget includes $5.5 million for a new Predator Operations Complex at Fargo's Hector Field.
"The Hooligans are some of the best pilots in the world. For the security of both North Dakota and the nation, we need to keep them in the air," the North Dakota leaders said. "We need to ensure that there is a continuous flying mission for the Hooligans."
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