The F-16 evolved from a 1972 USAF Lightweight Fighter (LWF) prototype program which sought a small, lightweight, low cost, air superiority day fighter designed for high performance and ease of maintenance. The F-16 Fighting Falcon achieved combat-ready status in October 1980.
F-16 Fighting Falcon Performance
| Maximum Speed | 1,345 mph. |
|---|---|
| Cruising Speed | 577 mph. |
| Range | 1,407 miles |
| Service Ceiling | 55,000 ft. |
F-16 Fighting Falcon Specifications
| Country of Origin | USA. |
|---|---|
| Similar Aircraft | F/A-18 Hornet, MiG-29 Fulcrum, Mirage F1. |
| Crew | One; F-16B-two. |
| Role | Multirole ground-attack/fighter. |
| Armament | One 20mm M-61A1 cannon and various combinations of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and bombs. |
| Engine | One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 with 23,830 lbs. of thrust with afterburner. |
| Span | 32 ft. 10 in. |
| Length | 49 ft. 6 in. |
| Height | 16 ft. 6 in. |
| Weight | 29,896 lbs. loaded |
F-16 Fighting Falcon WEFT Description
| Wings | Mid-mounted, delta-shaped. Missiles are normally mounted at the wing tips. |
|---|---|
| Engine(s) | One in body. Oval air intake under the center of the fuselage. Single exhaust. |
| Fuselage | Long, slender body, widens at air intake. Pointed nose. Bubble canopy. |
| Tail | Swept-back, tapered fin with square tip. Flats mid-mounted on the fuselage, delta-shaped with square tips, and a slight negative slant. Two belly fins. |
Countries which Fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon
Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America, Venezuela.
Additional Reading on the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
History of the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The history of the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Best Multirole fighter aircraft in the World
F-16 Fighting Falcon
USAF Fact Sheet on the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16.net
The Ultimate F-16 Reference
F-16 Fighting Falcon Manufacturers Web Sites
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was originally manufactured by General Dynamics.
General Dynamics sold its fixed-wing military aircraft division to Lockheed-Martin in 1993.
Books on the F-16 Fighting Falcon
Lockheed F-16 A/B/C/D Fighting Falcon
With more than 500 full color pictures, this book is seen by many as the “modeler’s bible” of all the F-16 Fighting Falcon books. It uncovers the F-16 A/B/C/D in all its detail from in and outside; fuselage details, cockpit variants, maintenance and armament. Scale drawings and cockpit diagrams conclude this publication.
F-16 Fighting Falcon Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Eye of the Viper : The Making of an F-16 Pilot
Every year, 1,000 fresh potential pilots undergo the intensive, six-month, 58-flight, $2 million-a-head fighter pilot basic training, where they are pushed to the extreme limits, propelled by the desire to earn their place in a warrior subculture. From the investigative science and medical writer, Peter A. Aleshire, comes Eye of the Viper, an intriguing book about the making of an F-16 fighter pilot.
Lock on No 2 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Top Guns!: F-14/F-15/F-16/F-18 in Color
F-16 Fighting Falcon: Combat Legends
Commonly referred to as the “Viper” by its aircrews, the F-16 has provided the U.S. Air Force with its air defense capability for the last 25 years. The plane has justifiably earned the reputation of being the world’s favorite multi-role fighter. It is a revolutionary aircraft that has continuously evolved to meet varying global needs and flew more sorties than any other aircraft during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War.
