F-16 Falcon
The F-16 has been manufactured on as many as five separate production lines, making it the largest fighter program in the Western world. Over 4000 F-16s have been built, with production still continuing.
In designing the F-16, advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other aircraft such as the F-15 and F-111 were selected. These were combined to simplify the airplane and reduce its size, purchase price, maintenance costs and weight. The light weight of the fuselage is achieved without reducing its strength, the F-16 is less than half the weight of the F-14 and it can carry a larger payload.
With a full load of internal fuel, the F-16 can withstand up to 9 G's, that is more than the capability of other current fighter aircraft.
The pilot has excellent flight control of the F-16 through its "fly-by-wire" system. Electrical wires relay commands, replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. The cockpit and its bubble canopy give the pilot unobstructed forward and upward vision, and greatly improved vision over the side and to the rear.
The seat-back angle was expanded from the usual 13 degrees to 30 degrees, increasing pilot comfort and gravity force tolerance. The pilot has excellent flight control of the F-16 through its "fly-by-wire" system. Electrical wires relay commands, replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. For easy and accurate control of the aircraft during high G-force combat maneuvers, a side stick controller is used instead of the conventional center-mounted stick.
Hand pressure on the side stick controller sends electrical signals to actuators of flight control surfaces such as ailerons and rudder.
All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture that permit expansion of the multirole flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack and beyond-visual-range interception missions.
This improvement program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, and incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology.
The F-16 was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces.
Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Versions:
F-16A
The F-16A, a single-seat model, first flew in December 1976.
The first operational F-16A was delivered in January 1979 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
F-16B
The F-16B, a two-seat model, has tandem cockpits that are about the same size as the one in the A model.
Its bubble canopy extends to cover the second cockpit. To make room for the second cockpit, the forward fuselage fuel tank and avionics growth space were reduced. The B loses 1,200 pounds of internal fuel capacity because of the second seat. The antenna pods were fitted on the wingtips in place of the AIM-9 missles.
During training, the forward cockpit is used by a student pilot with an instructor pilot in the rear cockpit.
F-16C/D
All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture that permit expansion of the multirole flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack and beyond-visual-range interception missions.
This improvement program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, and incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology.
Currently, most active units have converted to the F-16C/D.
The Falcon's versatility is still being explored. The variety of stores it can carry and wide range of missions it can undertake with great effectiveness is staggering.
The F-16 has proven itself capable of air superiority, "Wild Weasel", strike, and reconnaissance missions without any structural modofications.
The simple addition of the proper external pods or ordnance is all that is required. There is even an experimental GPU-5 external gun pod which contains a 30mm cannon firing the same shells as the A-10's famous tank-busting Avenger.
Recent developments (news)
AF restructures fighters to create compact, lethal force
Posted at: Mon Jun 1st, 2009 | Source: US Air Force
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The Secretary of the Air Force announced Combat Air Force's restructuring plan for fiscal year 2010. The plan proposes to retire legacy fighters in order to fund a more compact and lethal force and redistribute personnel to priority missions.
USAF, ROKAF put Max Thunder into full swing
Posted at: Tue May 12th, 2009 | Source: US Air Force
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Force personnel began the second 7th Air Force-designed Max Thunder bi-lateral air training exercise here May 7. The training opportunity aims to test aircrews' war-fighting skills in realistic combat situations...
Pratt & Whitney Begins Production of the Next Generation of F100 Series Engines
Posted at: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 | Source: Pratt & WhitneyEAST HARTFORD, Conn., March 26, 2009 - Pratt & Whitney, maker of the F100 engine family that powers the F-16 and F-15 military fighter jets operated by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the Air Forces of 22 allied ...
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