Flightline: 100

[Skyfire77]

>The first YF-16 prototype at Edwards AFB. | Photo: USAF

Originally conceived as a lightweight day-fighter in 1972, the F-16 has grown to fulfil a multitude of roles over its 50 years in service.

The performance of fast but cumbersome missile-armed fighter-interceptors like the F-4 and F-106 in Vietnam convinced the USAF that, among other things, there was a need for a lightweight day fighter with better maneuverability to supplement the coming F-15. Led by Colonel John Boyd, the newly-formed Fighter Mafia pushed the USAF into opening a competition for a new Lightweight Fighter, with a Request For Proposals (RFP) being issued on 6 January 1972. The RFP specified a new aircraft in the 20,000-pound class, spec'd for air-to-air day combat, with a good turn rate, acceleration, and range, and optimized for combat at speeds of Mach 0.6–1.6 and altitudes of 30,000–40,000 feet. The overall cost for this new plane was not to exceed $3 million each, allowing the USAF to operate a "high/low" mix of a few F-15s for air-superiority and a larger number of the new plane. Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, Northrop, and Vought all responded with designs. The Vought V-1100 and the Lockheed CL-1200-2 Lancer were eliminated early on, leaving Boeing's Model 908-909, General Dynamics' Model 401-16B and Northrop's P-600 as the LWF contenders. Boeing's design was originally favored, but GD's Model 401 was of similar performance and less expensive, so Northrop's P-600 (as the YF-17) and GD's Model 401 (as the YF-16) were selected as the finalists for a fly-off.

>The YF-16 and YF-17 in flight. | Photo: R.L. HOUSE (USAF)

By 1974 interest in the LWF had increased, with several NATO countries looking to replace their aging F-104Gs, and the USAF now contemplating retirement of the F-105 and F-4. The YF-16 and -17 were now in competition with the Mirage F1M-53, the SEPECAT Jaguar and Saab 37E for the newly christened Air Combat Fighter (ACF) competition. On 13 January 1975 the YF-16 was declared the winner, with its lower operating costs, greater range, superior maneuvering ability, and commonality with the F-15 (both aircraft used the P&W F100 turbofan) cited as the deciding factors. Softening the blow to Northrop, on 2 May 1975 the YF-17 was selected as the basis for the Navy's new multi-role fighter, which eventually became the F/A-18.

>The YF-16 (left) and the first F-16A FSD (right), both with AIM-9E Sidewinders. Note the smaller nose of the YF-16 on the left. | Photo: Tom Collins

The USAF ordered 15 (later reduced to Full-Scale Development (FSD) F-16s, 11 single seat F-16As and 4 two-seat F-16Bs (reduced to 6 and 2, respectively). The FSD aircraft differed from the YF-16 in that the fuselage was lengthened by 10.6", a larger nose radome was fitted for the AN/APG-66 radar, the wing area was increased from 280ft² to 300ft², the tailfin height was decreased, the ventral fins were enlarged, two more stores stations were added, and the original double nosewheel doors were replaced by a single door. As a result of the modifications, the weight of the F-16 FSD increased by 25% over the YF-16. Production of the F-16s commenced at General Dynamics' Fort Worth plant in late 1975, and by 20 October 1976 the first F-16A rolled out, followed by a first flight on 8 October of that year. The first two-seat F-16B flew on 8 August 1977.

>F-16 FSD no. 3, #50747, in a unique two-tone scheme. | Photo: USAF

The F-16 entered service with the USAF in 1979, as well as with four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Norway. The Imperial Iranian Air Force was also a launch client, but with the Iranian Revolution in 1979 the order was vacated. Some 55 F-16s produced for the IIAF were later acquired by the Israeli Air Force. By the 2010s, F-16s would find a home in more than two dozen air forces around the world. The main production line was at GD's Fort Worth plant, and aircraft were also produced in The Netherlands, and Belgium for NATO. TAI in Turkey has produced aircraft under license for the Turkish Air Force as well as for export, and Korean Aerospace Industries produced KF-16s for the ROK Air Force. All totaled, there have been more than 4,400 F-16 variants built since 1975.

>An F-16C (Block 40), armed with a Maverick missile, AIM-120s, and two Paveway LGBs, peels away from a tanker over Iraq. | Photo: USAF

There have been seven major production variants of the F-16: The initial A (single seat) and B (two seat) models, the improved C (single seat) and D (two) models for the USAF, the E (single) and F (two) and V models for export. In addition there have been a number of subvariants (Blocks) that differ mainly in avionics, engines and weapons systems, as well as various models produced for different countries, such as the F-16I Sufa for Israel, and the aforementioned KF-16 for South Korea.

>An F-16A Block 1 of the Belgian Air Force. Block 1 aircraft had smaller stabilizers than later F-16s, as well as a black radome which pilots complained was visible at great distances. The color was changed to gray with Block 5. | Photo: LockMart

>An F-1BD Block 15 Air Defence Fighter. F-16ADF were modified with a new radar for BVR missiles, as well as with the addition of a spotlight on the right side for night-time intercepts. | Photo: USAF

>A flight of four F-16C (Block 30) aircraft over Mount Rushmore.

>An F-16C Block 52+ from the Royal Singapore Air Force. | Photo: Luhai Wong

>An F-16I Sufa of the IAF. The Sufa is probably the most radical modification of the basic F-16 to see production. Major changes include a dorsal spine box to house avionics and Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) to increase range. | Photo: Zachi Evenor

The USAF began a program in the early 1980s to replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II (more popularly called the Warthog, or just Hog) with a modified version of the F-16 known as the A-16 (occasionally changed to F/A-16), which would have been armed with a 4-barreled variant of the GAU-8 Avenger cannon known as the GAU-13, as well as with AGM-65 Maverick missiles. Several Air National Guard F-16s armed with GPU-5 pods flew missions during the 1991 Gulf War, but the pods proved to be unsatisfactory, and they were withdrawn after only one day.

>F-16s painted in Euro One camouflage during testing of the A-16 concept. | Photo: USAF

>An F-16 test rig mated to a GPU-5 gun pod. Though based on the Avenger, the GAU-13/GPU-5 did not match the performance of the A-10s gun. | Photo: FFRC

Perhaps the most (in)famous early mission of the F-16 was the 1981 Israeli raid on the Iraqi "Osirak" nuclear reactor. The reactor, purchased from France, was ostensibly for peaceful purposes, but was believed by both the Iranians and Israelis to be potentially capable of producing bomb-making materials. During the Iran-Iraq war, two Iranian F-4 Phantom IIs attacked the plant's control room and centrifuge facilities, but this did not appreciably slow construction. The IDF then developed a plan to attack the reactor using their new F-16s, with F-15s acting as escorts. As the planes would have to cross through Saudi and/or Jordanian airspace, aerial refueling was not an option, so larger than normal drop tanks were fitted, as well as two Mk84 2,000lb bombs. Crossing through Jordanian airspace, the flight convinced ground controllers that they were a lost Saudi flight, then over Saudi Arabia they claimed to be Jordanian. The flight arrived at the reactor thirty minutes after the local air-defense troops went to lunch, so their radars were off and AAA guns unmanned. The attack collapsed the dome of the reactor complex, and despite Iraqi attempts to rebuild, the reactor languished until Operation DESERT STORM in 1991, when Osirak was completely destroyed by the Package Q Strike, a force of 78 F-16s, F-4G Wild Weasels, F-15s and EF-111s.

>One of the IDF F-16s that took part in the raid on the Osirak reactor, showing a mission marking as well as a record 6.5 aircraft kills. | Photo: Zachi Evenor

In addition to the 1991 Gulf War and associated enforcement of "no-fly zones" afterwards, the US' F-16 has been involved in the Balkan conflict, Afghan and Iraq wars of the 2000s, and 2011 Libyan intervention. The F-16 is currently serving with the USAF, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, as well as with the US Navy as an aggressor, and since 1983 as the aircraft of the Thunderbirds air-demonstration team.

>Fourship of the Thunderbirds' F-16s in formation. | Photo: Justin Gibb

>One of the Thunderbird F-16s over a B-52 at the Wings Over Pittsburgh Airshow. | Photo: Justin Gibb

>The Thunderbirds dive, trailing smoke. | Photo: Justin Gibb

>And climb! | Photo: Justin Gibb

>"Because I was inverted..." | Photo: Justin Gibb

In recent years, earlier model F-16A and -16C aircraft have been retired, as well as being converted into QF-16 drones, while the newest model, the F-16V, is being produced for the ROC, Bahrain, and Slovakia. The USAF had planned to replace the F-16 with the JSF, but delays in that program have seen the F-16 upgrades and service life extensions, and will remain flying for the foreseeable future.

>Retired F-16s at AMARG in 2010. A number of these aircraft will later be modified into QF-16 target drones. | Photo USAF

>The F-16V, with conformal fuel tanks and AMRAAMs. | Photo: Defence-Blog.com

[BicycleBuck]

@skyfire77

One of my first models was an F16 in red, white, and blue livery just like that photo. It was given to me by an airman at a swim meet held at Altus AFB in Altus, Oklahoma. It’s probably one of the reasons I developed an interest in aviation.

[LooseonExit]

@skyfire77

Always liked the F-16. Got to tour the Fort Worth plant with the local SAE organization many years ago. We were able to see an export production F-16 in assembly as well as the F-22 production line. We also got a peek at the F-35. Was a very cool facility and neat to walk part of the giant assembly line floor. It's huge!

[Skyfire77]

@bicyclebuck That was such an iconic scheme. I have a kit of the F-16 CCV/AFTI in the same colors.