Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
A Fokker built General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Photo: Willem Vogelaar
General Dynamics F-16A/C Fighting Falcon is a single seat multi-role fighter and F-16B/D is a two seat operational trainer.
In March 1993 the Fort Worth division of General Dynamics was sold to Lockheed, and the aircraft is now known as the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The F-16 is world’s most successful warplane of recent times, over 4.000 Falcons have been build.
The prototype YF-16 (72-1567) rolled out at Fort Worth on 13 December 1973, and was delivered by C-5A Galaxy to Edwards AFB California. During high speed taxi testing on 20 January 1974 test-pilot Phil Oestricher had to take-off with his YF-16, followed by the first official flight on 2 February 1974.
Delivery of the first operational USAF F-16A and F-16B began in January 1979, with the 388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah. The first European F-16 (FB-01) was delivered to the Belgian Air Force also in January 1979. The Netherlands accepted their first F-16B (J-259) in February 1979.
The F-16C/D models introduce more high-tech for night operations, a new Hughes APG-68 multi-mode radar with increased range, sharper resolution and more operating modes. The first F-16C Flew 19 June 1984. To recognize the C/D models, note the antenna on the tail-fin.
Since 1992 the European Partners ( Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Denmark) working together at the Mid-Life-Update program. The MLU program was designed to bring the Block 15 aircraft up to the standards of the Block 50/52 F-16C/D, in particular to give them the capability of carrying and launching Beyond Visual Range weapons such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, together with the ability to carry out precision weapons delivery missions at night and in adverse weather.? The first MLU aircraft flew in April of 1995. By early 1998, conversions were being carried out in all four countries. Present plans are for 48 Belgian, 61 Danish, 156 Dutch, and 56 Norwegian F-16A/Bs to go through the MLU program. The program is scheduled with software updates to continue into 2009.
F-16AM J-060 and J-193 RNAFRNAF F-16AM with flare demo
- F-16AM MM7246 AMI
| General Dynamics F-16A/C fighting Falcon is a single seat multi-role fighter and F-16B/D is a two seat operational trainer.In March 1993 the Fort Worth division of General Dynamics was sold to Lockheed, and the aircraft is now known as the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The F-16 is world’s most successful warplane of recent times, over 4.000 Falcons have been build. The prototype YF-16 (72-1567) rolled out at Fort Worth on 13 December 1973, and was delivered by C-5A Galaxy to Edwards AFB California. During high speed taxi testing on 20 January 1974 test-pilot Phil Oestricher had to take-off with his YF-16, followed by the first official flight on 2 February 1974. Delivery of the first operational USAF F-16A and F-16B began in January 1979, with the 388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah. The first European F-16 (FB-01) was delivered to the Belgian Air Force also in January 1979. The Netherlands accepted their first F-16B (J-259) in February 1979. The F-16C/D models introduce more high-tech for night operations, a new Hughes APG-68 multi-mode radar with increased range, sharper resolution and more operating modes. The first F-16C Flew 19 June 1984. To recognize the C/D models, note the antenna on the tail-fin. Since 1992 the European Partners ( Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Denmark) working together at the Mid-Life-Update program. The MLU program was designed to bring the Block 15 aircraft up to the standards of the Block 50/52 F-16C/D, in particular to give them the capability of carrying and launching Beyond Visual Range weapons such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, together with the ability to carry out precision weapons delivery missions at night and in adverse weather. The first MLU aircraft flew in April of 1995. By early 1998, conversions were being carried out in all four countries. Present plans are for 48 Belgian, 61 Danish, 156 Dutch, and 56 Norwegian F-16A/Bs to go through the MLU program. The program is scheduled with software updates to continue into 2009. |
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Special F-16′s:
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F-16 operators:
* Italian F16′s currently leased from ANG (USAF) as “interim” between F-104′s and Eurofighter Typhoon. F-16 in combat: |
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