Wings Of Glory - by Bernardo Schiocchet

"Phantom is hit! Repeat Phantom is hit! Didn't see any parachute! No parachute! Mayday! Mayday!"

"Boogies are inbound!"

Colonel John "Phantom" Pittsburgh. Black-haired, 5'7 "tall, handsome man who fought in the Gulf War with his squadron of F-16s. War hero. But he was young and immature, always head-to-head with guns. Until something happened. Something that took part of him, literally. He was still a lieutenant in 1991, flying and shooting completely by instinct. He was already an ace with 6 kills.

On October 12 of that year, he and his wingman, Tom Rogers, would be head-to-head with one MiG-29. Clear weather, the desert took up all the horizon in the cockpit as the MiG started to approach. Phantom unlocked guns and waited to have enough range to shoot, and Rogers braked left. Pittsburgh suspected of being too close to the enemy aircraft, at the same altitude, heading for a crash. But instead of breaking right, he'll continue in the dogfight. As they approached, John had the MiG locked on the screen and shot, but missed. The boogie was too close, he had to brake left, but it was already too late. His wing smashed into the MiG-29's first engine, and debris flew everywhere.

Panic seized him as his F-16 started losing altitude, and he began to dive toward the sand. But that is not the problem. The ejection handle was stuck, and he couldn't eject. With only limited thrust, he did the maneuver that saved his life. He pulls the nose up and then goes full speed. Seconds later, a giant fireball appeared in Hondo's view on the Blackhawk window.

The day of today. These days. In Tucson, Arizona, there is the David Monthan Air Force Base, the biggest military aircraft base graveyard in the world. But the base lost its power when new planes like the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II were introduced. These planes went to the latest bases, like Englin AFB.

Phantom is still active.

"Arizona is hot, especially Phoenix." Said Hondo. Black-skinned and curly-haired, Hondo was a helicopter pilot in the Gulf War.

"Maybe too hot," said Phantom.

"It's nice for the engines."

Hondo and Phantom met in the middle of the war, most tragically. Cold-blooded, Hondo was requested for a rescue mission. Leading his Blackhawk until the crash site, he saw it happening. Soldiers could get Phantom out of there with one drop of blood resting in his body.

"One more beer, John?"

"Have to work."

"You are going to Glendale? with the F-35s?"

"Yeah."

He jumped into his old Kawasaki and accelerated there. At Luke Air Force Base, standing in the gate, there was Admiral Keith. He is old and very cold, and finally, he is in a good mood. Usually, when this happens, he is offering something. Last time it was a promotion. We went in a black SUV to his office, which is on the other side of the campus.

"Have a seat, Colonel."

Admiral Keith got a bunch of papers from the drawer. The atmosphere was cold as he started to say:

"Well, Phantom, I need you in Tucson."

"Davis Monthan, sir?"

"Yes. Folks are searching for the best F-16 pilot."

Phantom felt he would throw up his heart. He touched his chest, breathed heavily, and said, with tons of pressure in his head.

"With all due respect, sir... — I don't pilot F-16s anymore."

"I'm not asking. Pack your things and go."

What the hell. 5 minutes later, he is already in the same black SUV. During the 2-hour trip, the horizon took the form of a desert as Phantom could hear the music of the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan engine. Wait. Those are F-16A. First variant of the F-16. They retired in 2007. They haven't flown since then. Space is limited in David Monthan. Larger planes are being retired. There is no space for these old F-16s. USAF is selling them. For who? USAF hates selling fighters.