F-16

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (20 Pics)

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F-16C demo Video

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 F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The F-16 is world's most successful warplane of recent times, over 4000 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.

Developing Nation:	USA
Manufacturer/designer:	General Dynamics
Task:	Multi-role Fighter
First Flight:	YF-16 72-1468 20 January 1974 F-16A 75-0745 8 December 1976 F-16B 75-0751 8 August 1977 F-16C 83-1118 19 June 1984 F-16D 83-1174 14 September 1984
First Delivery:	6 January 1979
First Operational:	12 November 1980 by USAF's 4th TFS of the 388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah.
Crew:	F-16A/C 1 F-16B/D 2
Ejection Seat:	ACES II zero-zero canted to recline 30°.
	F-16A block 15 OCU specification
Wing Span:	9,45 m, with tip-mounted AAM's 10,00 m.
Wing Area:	28,87 m².
Length:	15,03 m.
Height:	5,01 m.
Engine (s):	One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 rated at 64,9 kN dry and with afterburner 105.7 kN.
Weight:	Empty: 6.607 Kg. Internal fuel: 3.162 Kg. External fuel: 3.066 Kg. Max. payload: 6.894 Kg.
Max. Take off weight:	Max. take off: 14.968 Kg.
Max. Speed:	2.124 km/h at 12.190 m.
Max. Range:	3.891 Km.
Performance:	Max. endurance hours.
g limits:	+ 9.
Radar:	Westinghouse APG-66 pulse- Doppler radar.
Centerline hard point('s):	1
Underwing hard points:	6
Wingtip hard points:	2
Weapons:	20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon with 511 rounds. AIM-7 Sparrow. AIM-9L/M/P Sidewinder. AGM-45 Shrike. AGM-65 Maverick. AGM-78 Standard. AGM-88 Harm. GBU-10. GBU-15. Mk 20 Rockeye. CBU -87 Cluster bomb. GP Bombs. Paveway II Bombs.
Extra:	Orpheus reconnaissance pods, only Dutch F-16A(R).

	F-16C block 25 specification.
Wing Span:	9,45 m, with tip-mounted AAM's 10,00 m.
Wing Area:	28,87 m².
Length:	15,03 m.
Height:	5,09 m.
Engine (s):	- General Electric F110-GE-100 turbofan rated at 122,77 kN with afterburner (1x) Or: - Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan rated with afterburner 104,31 kN. (1x)
Weight:	- Empty: 8.663 Kg with F110 turbofan. - Empty: 8.316 kg with F100 turbofan. - Internal fuel: 3.162 Kg. - External fuel: 3.066 Kg. - Max. payload: 9.276 Kg.
Max. Take off weight:	Max. take off: 19.187 Kg.
Max. Speed:	2.124 km/h at 12.190 m.
Max. Range:	3.891 Km.
Performance:	Service ceiling 15.240 m.
g limits:	+ 9.
Radar:	Hughes AN/APG-68 (V5) multi mode radar.
Centerline hard point('s):	1
Underwing hard points:	6
Wingtip hard points:	2
Weapons:	- 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon with 511 rounds. - AIM-9L/M/P Sidewinder. - AIM-120 AMRAAM. - AGM-45 Shrike. - AGM-65 Maverick. - AGM-88 Harm. - GBU-10 laser guided bombs. - GBU-12 laser guided bombs. - Mk 20 Rockeye. - CBU -87 Cluster bombs. - GP Bombs. - Paveway II Bombs.
Extra:	LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod.

Special F-16's:

YF-16/CCV 72-1567 single ff 16-03-1976 Control Configured Vehicle.
F-16/79 75-0752 dual ff 29-10-1980 General Electric J79-GE-17X single shaft turbojet engine.
F-16/101 75-0745 single ff 19-12-1980 General Electric GE-YJ-101 two shaft turbojet engine.
AFTI/F-16 75-0750 single ff 10-07-1982 Advanced Fighter Technology Integration.
F-16XL 75-0749 single ff 03-07-1982 "Cranked Delta" Wing with F100 engine.
F-16XL 75-0747 dual ff 29-10-1982 "Cranked Delta" Wing with F110 engine.
F-16D DFLCS 83-1176 dual ff -10-1992 Digital Flight Control System.

F-16 operators:

Bahrain	18 F-16C
	4 F-16D
Belgium	136 F-16A
	24 F-16B
Chile	6 F-16C
	4 F-16D
Denmark	60 F-16A
	17 F-16B
Egypt	34 F-16A
	8 F-16B
	136 F-16C
	42 F-16D
General Dynamics	1 NF-16D-30
Greece	100 F-16C
	30 F-16D
Indonesia	8 F-16A
	4 F-16B
Israel	103 F-16A
	22 F-16B
	81 F-16C
	54 F-16D
	100 F-16I
Italy *	30 F-16A ADF
	4 F-16B OCU
Jordan	12 F-16A
	4 F-16B
	17 F-16A/B ADF
Netherlands	177 F-16A
	36 F-16B
Norway	60 F-16A
	14 F-16B
Oman	12 F-16C/D (delivery 2008)
Pakistan	28 F-16A
	12 F-16B
Poland	36 F-16C
	12 F-16D (delivery 2006)
Portugal	38 F-16A
	7 F-16B
Singapore	4 F-16A
	4 F-16B
	22 F-16C
	20 F-16D
South Korea	125 F-16C
	55 F-16D
Taiwan	120 F-16A
	30 F-16B
Thailand	43 F-16A
	11 F-16B
Turkey	196 F-16C
	44 F-16D
United Arab Emirates	55 F-16E
	25 F-16F (delivery from 2004)
United States Air force	672 F-16A
	123 F-16B
	1240 F-16C
	205 F-16D
United States Navy	22 F-16N
	4 TF-16N
Venezuela	18 F-16A
	6 F-16B

* Italian F16's currently leased from ANG (USAF) as "interim" between F-104's and Eurofighter Typhoon.

F-16 in combat:

Israel:

On 28 April 1981 Israeli F-16's scored the first air to air kill by shooting down two Syrian Mi-8 'Hip' helicopters. Israel gave the F-16 it's combat debut on 7 June 1981 with the strike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. In 1982 Israeli F-16's achieved ascendancy over Syrian MiG's during battles over Lebanon, shooting down 44 Syrian warplanes.

Pakistan:

The second nation to use the Falcon in combat was Pakistan, they shot down 5 communist aircraft along it's Afghan border.

Venezuela:

A F-16 of the Venezuela air force shoots down an AT-27 during the Air Force coupe on 27 November 1992.

Desert Storm 17 January - 28 February 1991:

The biggest combat action was the Gulf air war, operation Desert Storm, 17 January - 28 February 1991. The USAF F-16A/C were employed in the air to ground role primarily for battlefield area interdiction, and was used against Iraqi troops, vehicles and forward installations. Five F-16's were lost in combat and two in non combat mishaps. Bahrain F-16's flew their first mission on 25 January and began offensive operations on the following days.

Southern Watch: 1 March 1991- 1 May 2003:

27 December 1992 brought the first USAF F-16 air to air combat kill, an Iraqi MiG-25 was destroyed by an AIM-120 AMRAAM of F-16D 90-0788/SW. Operation Southern Watch operated from the Prince Sultan AB in Saudi Arabia, last Combat Air Patrol was at 17 March 2003.

Provide Comfort 1 March 1991 - 1 January 1997

Northern watch: 1 January 1997 - 1 May 2003:

On 17 January 1993 an Iraqi MiG-29 was destroyed in the northern no-fly zone by USAF F-16C 86-0262/SP.

On 17 March 2003 was the last operational flight of the F-16C in operation Northern Watch, by the 55th FS, USAF from Incirlik AB in Turkey.

Deliberate Force: Aug.- Sept. 1994:

On 28 February 1994 4 Bosnian-Serb Soko G-4 Super Galebs were destroyed by two F-16C's. One of the F-16's (USAF 89-2137 / RS) shot down 3 !! Super Galebs, 2 with the AIM-9M Sidewinder, and the third with an AIM-120 AMRAAM. The second F-16 (USAF 89-2009 / RS) downed the 4th aircraft with an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile.

Allied Force: 24 March - 10 June 1999:

On 24 March 1999: a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM (J-063) shot down a Serbian MiG-29 Fulcrum using an AIM-120B AMRAAM missile. This became the first air to air kill in Allied Force.

Enduring Freedom 7 October 2001 - :

F-16's from Royal Netherlands Air Force, Danish Air Force and Norwegian Air Force together the EPAF (European Participating Air Forces) detachment, operating from the Air Base Manas in Kyrgyz. They flying Combat Air Patrols in Afghanistan against the Taliban regime, and Al-Qaeda.

Iraqi Freedom 20 March 2003 - :

F-16's of the 52nd FW from Spangdahlem AB, Germany deployed to the Middle-East for Combat Air Patrols missions.

Research: By Rob Vogelaar

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