General Dynamics F-16 Fighti ...
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General Dynamics F-16 Fighti ...
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F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in
the United States. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a
successful multi-role aircraft. The F-16 was developed by General Dynamics. In
1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed
Corporation, now Lockheed Martin. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason
it was a success on the export market and is serving 24 countries. It is the
largest and probably most significant Western fighter program with over 4000
aircraft built. Though no longer produced for the United States Air Force, it
is still produced for export.
The Fighting Falcon is regarded as a superb dogfighter with innovations such as
the bubble canopy, side-mounted control stick, and reclined seat. It was also
the first US fighter aircraft to match the English Electric Lightning's ability
to execute 9 g (88 m/sē) turns. Although the F-16's official popular name is
"Fighting Falcon," it is well known as the "Viper," the General Dynamics codename
for the project during its early development.
Development
The F-16 originates in a set of specifications the United States Department of
Defense issued in 1974. The deficiencies of the F-4 Phantom II in aerial combat
in the Vietnam War, particularly at close ranges, shaped the specifications for
the F-15. An informal and influential group nicknamed the "Fighter Mafia", among
them systems analyst Pierre Sprey, test pilot Charles E. Meyers, and instructor
pilot John Boyd, believed the F-15 was a move in the wrong direction. They
argued that the F-15 was too large and expensive. Designed as a fast interceptor,
it had a wide turn radius and was not well suited to close range dogfighting.
The Fighter Mafia argued for a lighter fighter with superb maneuverability that
was cheap enough to deploy in numbers. These specifications became the Lightweight
Fighter (LWF) program, begun in 1971.
The LWF specified a plane weighing 20,000 pounds (9,000 kg), half the weight of
the F-15, stressing low cost, small size, range, and stressing maneuverability -
turn rate and acceleration - at the expense of top speed. Its ideal operating
environment was intended to be under Mach 1.6 and 40,000 feet (12,000 m). 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 LWF faced significant opposition in the Air Force because it was seen as
competition to the F-15, the Air Force's premier fighter program. To head off
opposition the project was redesignated Air Combat Fighter (ACF). At this time,
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway were seeking a replacement for
their F-104 Starfighters and formed the Multinational Fighter Program Group to
choose a replacement. Both ACF aircraft were in consideration as well as the
Dassault Mirage F1 and the Saab Viggen. Also during this time, the Navy was
looking for a low cost alternative to the F-14 Tomcat, a similarly expensive,
costly interceptor as the F-15, in a program called VFAX. Congress directed
the Navy to use the same aircraft as the ACF program. As the VFAX was
envisioned to be a multi-role aircraft, this requirement made it into the ACF
specifications as well, staving off direct competition with the F-15 as it was
pitched to be a counterpart.
On January 13, 1975, the Air Force chose the YF-16 as the winner of the ACF
competition as it gave superior performance across the board and promised to be
cheaper to procure and maintain. It also used the same engine as the F-15,
which F-15 supporters believed would help their program. There were also political
concerns with keeping General Dynamics in business after the end of the F-111
program. The US Navy chose to have the YF-17 design developed into the F/A-18
because it offered twin-engined reliability, then viewed as essential for
over-water operations.
The plane was offered to NATO members and made an appearance at the 1975, Paris
Air Show. The MFPG nations agreed to purchase 348 planes, with final assembly
to take place in Belgium and various parts subcontracted among them.
Production
Initially, the F-16 was manufactured in two models: A (single-seat combat version)
and B (combat-capable two-seat trainer). The F-16A first took flight in December,
1976 and was first delivered to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing in January, 1979.
In the same month they were delivered to the Belgian Air Force. The F-16 is
the first American fighter to be concurrently deployed domestically and abroad.
The B model is a trainer version with an extended canopy to accommodate a
second pilot, also reducing fuel and avionics growth space. Typically the student
sits in the rear cockpit.
In the 1980s, the F-16A/B was superseded by the F-16C/D with improved avionics
and engine. The F-16 has been continually upgraded throughout its production
history; block designations reflect significant upgrades and are outlined below.
The empty weight of F-16 grew from 15,600 pounds (Block 10 F-16A) to 19,200
(Block 50 F-16C).
Due to their ubiquity, the F-16s have participated in numerous conflicts, most
of them in the Middle East. In 1981, 4
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