31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

An Airman from the 31st Maintenance Squadron Corrosions flight sands paint off an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. The corrosions flight Airmen sanded the paint off before painting on a new design. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Senior Airman Adam Ciecalone, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance journeyman, and Staff Sgt. Stephen Ramsbacher, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance craftsman, tape off areas on an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail before sanding it at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. Ciecalone and Ramsbacher taped areas that didn’t need to be sanded. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

A respirator mask hangs on an air compressor and vacuum system at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. The 31st Maintenance Squadron Corrosions Airmen must wear these masks to prevent inhaling paint particles during the sanding process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

A 31st Maintenance Squadron Corrosions team sands paint off an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. The team sanded off the paint before painting on a new design. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Staff Sgt. Stephen Ramsbacher, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance craftsman, sands paint off an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. The sanding and painting marked the first tail redesign since the 90s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Senior Airman Adam Ciecalone, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance journeyman, erases the tail strip from an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 23, 2017. Pneumatic erasers are used to remove the tail strip paint. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Staff Sgt. Stephen Ramsbacher, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance craftsman, secures his respirator mask before painting at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. Ramsbacher helped prepare and repaint an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Staff Sgt. Stephen Ramsbacher, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance craftsman, prepares his paint gun at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. Ramsbacher used the paint gun to evenly spray paint on an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Staff Sgt. Stephen Ramsbacher, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance craftsman, sprays clear coat on an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail strip at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. Ramsbacher helped prepare and repaint an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Senior Airman Adam Ciecalone, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance journeyman, pours paint into a paint gun at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. The paint gun was used to evenly spray a new tail design on an F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Senior Airman Adam Ciecalone, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance journeyman, paints a new design on an F-16 Fighting Falcon tail at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. Five F-16s received a new tail design. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Senior Airman Adam Ciecalone, 31st Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance journeyman, paints a new tail design on an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2017. Five F-16s received a new tail design. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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31 MXS flight preps, paints F-16 tails

Published Feb. 9, 2017
By Senior Airman Cary Smith
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Airmen from the 31st Maintenance Squadron Corrosions flight recently painted a new design on five 31st Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon tails. The remaining F-16 tails will only receive new lettering and numbers. This marks the first tail redesign since the 90s.