Reid Air Publications | Viper Story Part I - F-16s of the Air National Guard
Reviewed by Randy Bumgardner
The Viper Story, Part1:
F-16s of the Air National Guard
ISBN: 978-0-9795064-0-6
Wow! That's my review in a nutshell. Jake Melampy and Reid Air Publications have produced a fantastic tome of reference material for every Air National Guard unit in service today. Every image is a beautiful color photograph with documented serial numbers and locations. A lot of thorough work went into this offering and it shows. This is a reference any fan of the Viper shouldn't be without.
![Image 01](/reviews/images/325/01.jpg)
Weighing in at 247 pages, the book is 8.5 x 11 inches - a nice sized reference volume. It's divided into 36 chapters, each devoted to a specific Fighter Wing or Group, arranged alphabetically by state. The introduction provides the reader with a brief history of the ANG and the F-16's role in it, including an brief rundown of the implications of the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closures) committee. The first page of each chapter gives the reader a history lesson of each particular ANG unit - when it was formed, what it flew, where it's based. The index of the book is organized by serial number - every photograph is catalogued and referenced by aircraft's serial number.
And then there are the images...Jake Melampy contributed many of them from his own collection, and various other contributors lent a hand as well. Every page is covered with fabulous full color photographs from each of the ANG units. Each photo is captioned with serial number, location and a minor blurb about the aircraft in question - where is it now, or where did it come from. You'll have to forgive my scan below, it doesn't do justice to the photograph in the book.
![Image 02](/reviews/images/325/02.jpg)
The only drawback is either 1) the book isn't larger, or 2) I don't have Part 2 yet. I'll go with #2. All kidding aside, this is a great reference for anybody interested in the F-16.
Review sample courtesy of Jake Melampy.
© Randy Bumgardner 2007
This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016