Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon
While the F-16A had proven a success, its lack of long-range missile and true all-weather capability hampered it, especially in projected combat against the Warsaw Pact over Central Europe. General Dynamics began work on the upgraded F-16C/D version, with the first Block 25 F-16C flying in June 1984 and entering USAF service that September.
Externally, the only ways to tell apart the F-16C from the F-16A is the slightly enlarged base of the tail and a UHF radio antenna at the base of the tail. The intake is also slightly larger, though later marks of the F-16A also have this feature. Internally, however, the F-16C is a significantly different aircraft. The earlier APG-66 radar was replaced by the APG-68 multimode radar used by the F/A-18, which gave the F-16C the same capability to switch between ground-attack and dogfight mode and vastly improved all-weather capability. Cockpit layout was also changed in response to pilots’ requests, with a larger Heads-Up Display and movement of the radar display to eye level rather than between the pilot’s legs on the F-16A. The F-16C would also have the capability to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM, though it would not be until 1992 that the missile entered service. Other small upgrades were made throughout the design, including the engine.
The Block 25 initial production was superseded by the Block 30 F-16C in 1987, which gave it better navigation systems, and the capability to carry the either the General Electric F110 or the Pratt and Whitney F100 turbofan. The Block 40/42 “Night Falcon” followed in 1988, equipped with LANTIRN night attack pods, followed by the Block 50/52, which was a dedicated Wild Weasel variant. In USAF service, the latter are semi-officially known as F-16CG and F-16CJ variants.
The F-16C had replaced the F-16A in nearly all overseas USAF units by the First Gulf War in 1991, and as a result, the aircraft was among the first deployed to the theater in August 1990. During the war, the F-16C was used mainly in ground attack and strike sorties, due to delays in the AIM-120, but it performed superbly in this role. USAF F-16s finally scored kills in the F-16C, beginning in 1992, when an Iraqi MiG-23 was shot down over the southern no-fly zone; the victory was also the first with the AMRAAM. Four Serbian G-4 Super Galebs were shot down over Bosnia in 1994. F-16Cs had replaced the F-16A entirely in regular and Reserve USAF service by 1997, and further service was seen over Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya by 2012. Subsequent upgrades to USAF F-16Cs with GPS allow them to carry advanced precision weapons such as JSOW and JDAM.
Whatever the variant, the F-16 is today the most prolific combat aircraft in existence, with 28 nations operating the type (17 of which operate F-16Cs). Over 4450 have been built, with more in production; the F-16C is also license-produced by Turkey and South Korea. It also forms the basis for the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter for Japan, though the F-2 is significantly different, with a longer nose and larger wing. Though the USAF projects that the F-16C will be replaced by the F-35 beginning in 2020, it will likely remain in service for a very long time.
This F-16 is actually the combination of two airframes: F-16C 84-1228 and F-16B 78-0105, so it is something of a "Frankenfalcon," with the forward half from the F-16C and the rear the F-16B. 84-1228 was a F-16C delivered to the USAF in 1985 to the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina; on January 5, 1989, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair when the pilot hit birds on takeoff. Though the pilot was able to abort the takeoff, 84-1228 ran off the runway and exploded. The pilot was able to escape, but the F-16 behind the wingroot was a burned-out wreck.
Rather than completely scrap it, the front section was cut off and mated with the rear section of 78-0105. This F-16 had crashed into the Gulf of Mexico in 1981 while assigned to the 56th Tactical Fighter Training Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida. The crew ejected successfully and the F-16 was recovered from the water, but the nose was considered unsalvageable and scrapped. The two sections were put together as a ground instruction trainer, but since the aircraft could not be powered up, the "Frankenfalcon" was of little use even as a trainer. It was returned to General Dynamics for disposal, and it sat forgotten in the company plant until 2016, when it was donated to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark.
For something put together from two wrecks, the aircraft looks pretty good, though it lacks landing gear. (78-0105 still had its gear intact, so why it was removed is unknown.) It also lacks any national markings, and the camouflage is somewhat close to an aggressor scheme, or Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s. (Joe Davies seems to have an inventive approach to painting some of its aircraft.) The name "Salty Dog" comes from 78-0105's inadvertent bath in the Gulf of Mexico!
Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon
While the F-16A had proven a success, its lack of long-range missile and true all-weather capability hampered it, especially in projected combat against the Warsaw Pact over Central Europe. General Dynamics began work on the upgraded F-16C/D version, with the first Block 25 F-16C flying in June 1984 and entering USAF service that September.
Externally, the only ways to tell apart the F-16C from the F-16A is the slightly enlarged base of the tail and a UHF radio antenna at the base of the tail. The intake is also slightly larger, though later marks of the F-16A also have this feature. Internally, however, the F-16C is a significantly different aircraft. The earlier APG-66 radar was replaced by the APG-68 multimode radar used by the F/A-18, which gave the F-16C the same capability to switch between ground-attack and dogfight mode and vastly improved all-weather capability. Cockpit layout was also changed in response to pilots’ requests, with a larger Heads-Up Display and movement of the radar display to eye level rather than between the pilot’s legs on the F-16A. The F-16C would also have the capability to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM, though it would not be until 1992 that the missile entered service. Other small upgrades were made throughout the design, including the engine.
The Block 25 initial production was superseded by the Block 30 F-16C in 1987, which gave it better navigation systems, and the capability to carry the either the General Electric F110 or the Pratt and Whitney F100 turbofan. The Block 40/42 “Night Falcon” followed in 1988, equipped with LANTIRN night attack pods, followed by the Block 50/52, which was a dedicated Wild Weasel variant. In USAF service, the latter are semi-officially known as F-16CG and F-16CJ variants.
The F-16C had replaced the F-16A in nearly all overseas USAF units by the First Gulf War in 1991, and as a result, the aircraft was among the first deployed to the theater in August 1990. During the war, the F-16C was used mainly in ground attack and strike sorties, due to delays in the AIM-120, but it performed superbly in this role. USAF F-16s finally scored kills in the F-16C, beginning in 1992, when an Iraqi MiG-23 was shot down over the southern no-fly zone; the victory was also the first with the AMRAAM. Four Serbian G-4 Super Galebs were shot down over Bosnia in 1994. F-16Cs had replaced the F-16A entirely in regular and Reserve USAF service by 1997, and further service was seen over Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya by 2012. Subsequent upgrades to USAF F-16Cs with GPS allow them to carry advanced precision weapons such as JSOW and JDAM.
Whatever the variant, the F-16 is today the most prolific combat aircraft in existence, with 28 nations operating the type (17 of which operate F-16Cs). Over 4450 have been built, with more in production; the F-16C is also license-produced by Turkey and South Korea. It also forms the basis for the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter for Japan, though the F-2 is significantly different, with a longer nose and larger wing. Though the USAF projects that the F-16C will be replaced by the F-35 beginning in 2020, it will likely remain in service for a very long time.
This F-16 is actually the combination of two airframes: F-16C 84-1228 and F-16B 78-0105, so it is something of a "Frankenfalcon," with the forward half from the F-16C and the rear the F-16B. 84-1228 was a F-16C delivered to the USAF in 1985 to the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina; on January 5, 1989, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair when the pilot hit birds on takeoff. Though the pilot was able to abort the takeoff, 84-1228 ran off the runway and exploded. The pilot was able to escape, but the F-16 behind the wingroot was a burned-out wreck.
Rather than completely scrap it, the front section was cut off and mated with the rear section of 78-0105. This F-16 had crashed into the Gulf of Mexico in 1981 while assigned to the 56th Tactical Fighter Training Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida. The crew ejected successfully and the F-16 was recovered from the water, but the nose was considered unsalvageable and scrapped. The two sections were put together as a ground instruction trainer, but since the aircraft could not be powered up, the "Frankenfalcon" was of little use even as a trainer. It was returned to General Dynamics for disposal, and it sat forgotten in the company plant until 2016, when it was donated to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark.
For something put together from two wrecks, the aircraft looks pretty good, though it lacks landing gear. (78-0105 still had its gear intact, so why it was removed is unknown.) It also lacks any national markings, and the camouflage is somewhat close to an aggressor scheme, or Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s. (Joe Davies seems to have an inventive approach to painting some of its aircraft.) The name "Salty Dog" comes from 78-0105's inadvertent bath in the Gulf of Mexico!