9,000-Pound Silo Flown to Champlain Valley in 1986

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On March 12, 1986, two notable events took place in Vermont - a 9,000-pound silo was flown by helicopter from the Northeast Kingdom to the Champlain Valley, and the Vermont Air Guard base in South Burlington welcomed its first F-16 fighter jets, which would be flown for the next 30 years.

Why it matters

These events highlight Vermont's rich aviation history, from the preservation of historic structures like the round barn to the modernization of the state's military air capabilities over time.

The details

The silo was part of a rare round barn built in 1901 in East Passumpsic and was reconstructed at the Shelburne Museum. The arrival of the F-16 fighter jets at the Vermont Air Guard base in South Burlington marked the replacement of the Vietnam-era F-4 jets that had previously been flown.

• On March 12, 1986, a 9,000-pound silo was flown by helicopter from the Northeast Kingdom to the Champlain Valley.
• Also on March 12, 1986, the Vermont Air Guard base in South Burlington welcomed its first F-16 fighter jets.