CAPTAIN MONESSA CATUNCAN - FILIPINA USAF F-16 FIGHTER PILOT
She's the first Filipino-American woman to fly the supersonic F-16 Fighter Jet in combat missions in Iraq as a member of the United States Air Force (USAF). Monessa is the brainy and beautful youngest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Catuncan of Mesquite, Texas. Her parents were originally from Pasay City and Olongapo City, Philippines. In Mesquite High School she excelled academically, graduating valedictorian in a class of 693 in 2000.
The same year, she passed the rigid examinations given by the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs and graduated as one of the student pilots in her class in 2004. Again she excelled as a student pilot in the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). She honed up her flying skill by flying the T-6 trainer plane at the Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. She went to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas and Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls to fly the T-38. She learned the basics of formation flying, offensive and defensive fighter maneuvering, and surface attack bombing techniques.
After flying the T-38 aircraft, she was allowed to pick the type of aircraft - F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Warthog, B-52 Stratofortress, and F/A-22 Raptor. Monessa opted to fly the F-16 Falcon jet fighter (also known as Viper), a state-of-the-art combat aircraft. She finished her F-16 flying course with high marks at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona and was part of the "Lucky Number 13" graduating class of 2007. She was the only woman in her group and only Filipina to pass the much-coveted pilot course.
Aside for pursuing her desired career with USAF, the 30-years old top gun served as a Squadron Commander, a Division-1 tennis player, a Glider Instructor Pilot, and a member of the Glider Acrobatic Team, among other essential positions.
The USAF is known for its core values of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do."
F-16
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Published 10/1/10 ALT Group Multiply
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