Three new F-16V Block 70s arrive at Taitung’s air base

LONG WAIT: Deliveries of the 66 jets were expected to begin in 2023 and be completed by this year, but technical issues had pushed back the timetable

The second batch of F-16V Block 70 jets purchased by Taiwan from the US, aircraft 6729, 6731 and 6732, arrived at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County at about 11am yesterday, the air force said.

The cockpit of the first aircraft to land, tail number 6732, displayed the Republic of China flag.

The pilot of the last aircraft, tail number 6731, made a hand gesture representing the number “21” to the crowd.

A F-16V Block 70 jet lands at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung yesterday.

Photo: Liu Jen-wei, Taipei Times

Airmen on the ground recognized it as the signature of the 21st Fighter Squadron.

Sources said the pilot who made the gesture was Chiang Hui-yu (蔣惠宇), a graduate of the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2014. She is one of Taiwan’s first female F-16 jet pilots.

The Air Force Command Headquarters said it would proceed with familiarization training as it integrates the new aircraft into service, building up their initial operational capability.

The jets departed from Lockheed Martin’s factory in South Carolina earlier this month and arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday last week, the media have reported.

Their arrival followed the delivery of the first batch on Oct. 2: two F-16V Block 70 jets.

The US approved the sale of 66 F-16Vs and related equipment to Taiwan in 2019 for about US$8 billion.

Deliveries were expected to begin in 2023 and be completed by this year, but delays caused by technical issues have pushed back the timetable.