F-16 Fighting Falcon
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | ||
|---|---|---|
 F-16C Fighting Falcon | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Multi-role fighter | |
| Crew | 1 or 2 | |
| First Flight | ||
| Entered Service | ||
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 14.52 m | 47 ft 8 in |
| Wingspan | 9.45 m | 31 ft |
| Height | 4.8 m | 16 ft |
| Wing Area | 27.87 m² | 300 ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 7,157 kg | 15,778 lb |
| Loaded | 10,348 kg | 22,814 lb |
| Maximum Takeoff | 16,057 kg | 35,400 lb |
| Capacity | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | One Pratt & Whitney F100-200 afterburning turbofan | |
| Power | 106 kN | 23,840 lb |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum Speed | 2,173 km/h | 1,350 mph |
| Combat Range | 547 km | 340 miles |
| Ferry Range | 3,890 km | 2,415 miles |
| Service Ceiling | > 15,240 m | > 50,000 ft |
| Rate of Climb | 15,240 m/min | 50,000 ft/min |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 1 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon | |
| Bombs | CBU-87, CBU-89 Gator Mine, CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, Paveway, JDAM, Mk80 | |
| Missiles | AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-119 Penguin, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM | |
| Other | LANTIRN, Electronic counter-measures, fuel tanks | |
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern US-built, multi-role jet fighter aircraft. It is in use by dozens of countries all over the world.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Versions 3 Inventory 4 Manufacturers 5 Specifications 6 See also 7 External links |
History
From the very beginning, the F-16 was intended to be neither a technical break-through, nor an enormously powerful weapons platform, but rather a cost-effective "workhorse", that could perform various kinds of missions and maintain around-the-clock readiness. This distinguishes the F-16 from its predecessors, many of which were not designed for all-weather operation (F-104) or were extremely expensive / made for aircraft carrier operations (F-14). Because of its sleek, aggressive lines and quick handling, the F-16 earned the monicker "Viper" from its pilots.
From the point of view of design, the F-16 is closer to a fighter than to a ground attack aircraft. It is small and agile, and its canopy is designed for the pilot's optimal visibility, a feature vital during air-to-air combat. For this purpose, the F-16 carries an M61 Vulcan cannon, and can be equipped with air-to-air missiles. However, the F-16 can also perform ground-support tasks if necessary. For that task, it can be equipped with missiles or bombs.
The F-16 originates in a set of specifications the United States Department of Defense issued in 1974. Two companies were chosen during the concept stage: General Dynamics with the YF-16 design and Northrop with a design which bore the name YF-17 Cobra. The F-16 was chosen from the two prototypes; however the two-engined YF-17 was not abandoned and later on became the F/A-18 Hornet.
Initially, the F-16 was manufactured in two models: A (combat version) and B (two seats, used for training). The first time an F-16A took off was in December 1976; the first aircraft was delivered to the US Air Force in January 1979. In the 1980s, the F-16A/B was superseded by the F-16C/D with improved avionics and engine.
Due to their ubiquity, the F-16s have participated in numerous conflicts, most of them in the Middle East. In 1981, 4 Israeli F-16s participated in a raid that destroyed Osiraq, an Iraqi nuclear reactor near Baghdad. The following year, during the invasion into Lebanon, Israeli F-16s engaged on numerous occasions with Syrian aircraft, ending up victorious at all times but one. F-16s were also used afterwards in their ground-attack role for strikes against targets in Lebanon. In the Gulf War of 1991, F-16 from the air forces of the Coalition participated in the strikes against Iraq.
Versions
Inventory
The figures are as of 1992.
Manufacturers
Specifications
See also
External links
| Modern USAF Series | Miscellaneous | |
| Attack--OA-10 Thunderbolt II>OA/A-10,AC-130H/U | RC-135V/W | |
| Bomber--B-52 Stratofortress>B-52,B-2 Spirit | ||
| OC-135B | ||
| F-15 Eagle | Fighter--F-15/E,F-16 | KC-10,KC-135 Stratotanker |
| F-15E Strike Eagle | Electronic--E-3 Sentry>E-3,E-4B | |
| HC-130P/HC-130N>N | ||
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | Transport--C-5 Galaxy>C-5,C-17 Globemaster III | |
| MC-130E/MC-130H>H/P | ||
| C-22B, Boeing C-32 | ||
| MH-53J/M | ||
| Trainers--T-1 Jayhawk>T-1, T-37 Tweet | ||
| HH-60G | ||
| Weather--WC-130 Hercules>WC-130, WC-135 | ||
| UH-1N | ||
| UAV--RQ-1 Predator>RQ-1/MQ-1 UAV, Global Hawk | U-2S/TU-2S | |
| VC-25 | ||
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Similar Aircraft | IAI Lavi - Mitsubishi F-2 - AIDC Ching-Kuo - Chengdu J-10 |
| Designation Series | YF-12 - F-14 - F-15 - F-16 - F-17 - F/A-18 - F-20 |
| Related Lists | List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft |
| List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Years in Aviation |