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    seldom do we get any SAM launches, mostly sixes, an
    occasional eight. I have not seen a two or a three lately.
    Most of the defenses are now AAA and small AAA, 23mm, 37mm,
    with an occasional S-60 57mm.

    S: What are your personal feelings as all this is being thrown
    up at you?
    
    E: Actually, at the time you are quite busy. We have standing    
    orders that any time we see AAA or SAM being shot at us,    
    that now becomes our primary target so what happens is, One
    and Two go down the chute with Three and Four checking to
    make sure that nothing is being shot at them. We see AAA;
    that now becomes Three and Four's primary target. They roll
    in on it, and after one pass it is usually not a factor any
    more. We can fight back.
    
    Our tactics are such that even though there is always a
    threat, it is not anything that, with careful planning, you
    need to worry about too much.
    
    S: How has the aircraft performed for you?

    E: We are flying the oldest F-16C models in the Air Force
    inventory. They were built in 1983, and they are doing
    fine. They are holding up. If you look out on the ramp,
    you will see a bunch of airplanes that have upwards of 30 to
    35 bombs painted on the side, which means they have made 35
    to 40 trips up north. The airplanes are not a problem. We
    have plenty of airplanes. We are just not breaking any more
    than they really do in a peacetime environment, and we are
    flying them very hard and very long.
    
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