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c/n 61-167. At Hill AFB, UT. Coded NA of the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron part of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Nellis AFB, NV.
F-111F. C.N. 9. 494th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Written-off due to weapons bay fire at Nellis AFB, July 1994. Repair deemed uneconomical, cannibalized for parts, (27th FW, 524th FS). Photo Credit's: unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide dated 24 November 1992)
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron 'The Thunderbirds' at the Mildenhall Air Fete in May 1997 (scanned photograph)
F-111F. C.N. 74. 495th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 10 April 1996 as AA FV0274. Cripple Four was scrapped at AMARC in June 2012. Photo Credit's: UNknown to me (Kodachrome Slide)
USAF F-16C 90-0802 c/n CC-2 14th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, 5 Air Force based at Misawa Air Base, Japan - Pitch Black 2016
178th Fighter Squadron, North Dakota Air National Guard, F-16ADF 82-0829 at Fargo Hector Field in August 2000.
87094630 :Piction ID--Tomahawk missile installation under plane wing---Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---- Digitization of this image made possible by a grant from NEH: NEH and the San Diego Air and Space Museum
PictionID:44932792 - Catalog:14_015863 - Title:Facilities Details: Aerial of New Technical Building; AFMTC Date: 09/27/1957 - Filename:14_015863.tif - - - - Image from the Convair/General Dynamics Astronautics Atlas Negative Collection. The processing, cataloging and digitization of these images has been made possible by a generous National Historical Publications and Records grant from the National Archives and Records Administration---Please Tag these images so that the information can be permanently stored with the digital file.---Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
E-191 General Dynamics F-16AM FIghting Falcon Royal Danish Air Force, Esk727.
Royal International Air Tattoo - RAF Fairford 17th July 2023
87532811 :Piction ID--McDonnell Douglas DC-10 size comparison illustration---Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---- Digitization of this image made possible by a grant from NEH: NEH and the San Diego Air and Space Museum
What would become arguably the most successful fighter aircraft since World War II started modestly, and like many late 20th-Century fighter designs, as a result of lessons learned in the Vietnam War. Among those lessons was that large, heavy fighters were not always the answer: the F-4 Phantom II, while a superlative aircraft, had often found itself outclassed by smaller, more nimble North Vietnamese MiG-17s and MiG-21s. The call for the US Air Force to develop its own lightweight fighter was spearheaded by fighter pilot and air combat theorist John Boyd. At first, Boyd’s proposals were dismissed by the USAF, who feared losing funding for the F-15 Eagle then in development. Boyd and others were able to convince the USAF of the usefulness of a light, cheap fighter as a complement to the heavy, expensive F-15, and finally the USAF agreed to issue a requirement for a Lightweight Fighter (LWF)—though with no guarantee that it would actually buy it.
Both General Dynamics and Northrop responded with designs, which would become the YF-16 and YF-17 Cobra. The first YF-16 was rolled out in December 1973, and first flew in January of the next year—accidentally, as the prototype veered off the runway and the test pilot felt it safer to takeoff rather than try to steer it back. The YF-16 won the flyoff against the YF-17, and the USAF selected it to go into service as the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Simultaneously, the YF-16 won a flyoff for the Multinational Fighter; the MNF was planned to be the successor to a number of aircraft in NATO service, and the competition between the YF-16, YF-17, France’s Mirage F.1M, and the SEPECAT Jaguar was fierce. Once selected, production of the F-16 would be vastly expanded, with it not only being produced in the United States, but also in the Netherlands and Belgium as well (to be followed later by Turkey and South Korea). In a short time, the F-16 had come a long way.
Production F-16s differed from the prototype by being slightly larger and heavier, though the initial production batch retained the “small tail” tailplanes of the prototype. Though heftier than the prototype, the F-16 retained the basis of Boyd’s ideal lightweight fighter: it was extremely maneuverable, to the point that a number of early F-16s crashed as the aircraft could take more than the pilot. Its maneuverability is due both to a favorable thrust-weight ratio and its deliberately unstable design: the F-16 was one of the first fighters to employ a wholly-fly-by-wire control system, with the hydraulic controls of older fighters being replaced by microprocessors controlled by a central computer. The microprocessors are able to make the dozens of decisions per second required by the design. For this reason, the F-16 is also known as the “Electric Jet.” General Dynamics had attempted to mitigate these effects on the pilot by reclining the ejection seat backwards and moving the control stick to the side. The pilot also has superb visibility due to the F-16’s bubble canopy.
The Fighting Falcon’s baptism of fire would not take long. Israel, which had been among the first to purchase the F-16, scored the type’s first air-to-air kill over Lebanon in 1981, as well as its first significant strike mission, the raid on Iraq’s Osirak reactor. In the following year, Israeli F-16s scored possibly as many as 30 victories over Syrian MiGs during the 1982 Lebanon War. Pakistani F-16s were to see limited action during the Soviet-Afghan War, shooting down 10 Afghani and Soviet aircraft that strayed into Pakistan’s airspace. For the United States, the F-16 would see its first action in the First Gulf War, though here the USAF used the Falcon’s large payload in strike missions; USAF F-16s saw no aerial action during this conflict.
By the early 1990s, the USAF relegated its F-16A models to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, reequipping its units with later mark F-16Cs. Many of the ANG’s F-16As were upgraded to ADF standard. The last USAF F-16A left service around 2000; aircraft not placed in storage at AMARC in Arizona have been sold to other nations, while some are scheduled for conversion to QF-16 drones.
F-16As are among the most prolific fighters in the world, in service worldwide, flown by ten nations, three of which are in NATO. These aircraft (save those flown by Venezuela) have been significantly upgraded to F-16 MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) standard, making them equivalent to F-16Cs. Besides Israeli and Pakistani kills in the type, a Dutch F-16AM shot down a Serbian MiG-29 during the Kosovo War in 1999. Other NATO F-16AMs have seen service over Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.
This F-16A is on display at the Montana ANG's airpark at Great Falls International Airport, home of the 120th Airlift Wing (formerly the 120th Fighter Wing). The 120th flew F-16As from 1987 to 2001--but not this particular aircraft, which served with the 388th TFW at Hill AFB and the 157th TFS (South Carolina ANG) at McEntire ANGB. While with the latter, it flew combat during the First Gulf War. 79-0290 also has the distinction of being the first "named" F-16, as it was painted with the "Fighting Falcon" shield in 1980 when the F-16 was officially named. It was retired in 1995, and for years was used as a recruiting tool for the 120th FW, but eventually it was placed on permanent display in the 120th's airpark where it remains today.
I have another picture of 79-0290 from the other side that I took a number of years ago, but when I got some newer shots in April 2022, I decided not to replace the older shot with this one, as it shows two sides of the same aircraft. Since that first picture, the 120th has repainted the aircraft, blacking out the canopy and adding a "Let's Roll!" sticker to this side of the aircraft. Though 79-0290 was retroactively named the "City of Great Falls" (the 120th has restarted the old practice of naming their aircraft for Montana cities), it doesn't appear on the aircraft.
PictionID:54636952 - Catalog:14_035150 - Title:GD/Astronautics Details: Azusa Harness Mock Up Date: 01/09/1964 - Filename:14_035150.tif - - ---- Images from the Convair/General Dynamics Astronautics Atlas Negative Collection. The processing, cataloging and digitization of these images has been made possible by a generous National Historical Publications and Records grant from the National Archives and Records Administration---Please Tag these images so that the information can be permanently stored with the digital file.---Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
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.
The 120th Fighter Wing (Montana ANG) was naturally in attendance for the Missoula, Montana airshow in 2004. Two of their F-16s were in attendance, including 86-0278, a former 8th FW example that was assigned to the 120th in 2001; it was named "City of Bozeman," though the name was carried on the ventral fins and isn't visible in this shot. It saw combat over Iraq in 2008. Just after 0278 returned from the Middle East, the 120th reequipped with F-15s and 0278 was transferred to the 158th FW (Vermont ANG) and then to the 113th Wing (DC ANG), guarding the nation's capital.
This view shows the 120th's distinctive tail markings: the mountains represent Montana's Rocky Mountains, while the skull was the personal artist's mark of famous Western painter Charles M. Russell, a native of Great Falls, where the 120th is based. The title "Vigilantes" tail stripe was changed from the F-106's "Big Sky Country," and carries the number 3-7-77--the traditional calling card of the vigilantes, Montana's first semi-organized law enforcement, formed in 1864.
This is one of the few shots I have from the 2004 Missoula airshow, which was the hottest I have ever been to: it was 100 degrees air temperature, and easily 110 on the tarmac.
USAF F-16C 90-0810 14th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, 5 Air Force based at Misawa Air Base, Japan - Pitch Black 2016
PictionID:44932817 - Catalog:14_015865 - Title:Atlas 6A Details: Missile 6A View Up Ramp; Pad 14 Date: 09/27/1957 - Filename:14_015865.tif - - - - Image from the Convair/General Dynamics Astronautics Atlas Negative Collection. The processing, cataloging and digitization of these images has been made possible by a generous National Historical Publications and Records grant from the National Archives and Records Administration---Please Tag these images so that the information can be permanently stored with the digital file.---Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
F-111E. C.N. E-226. 77th TFS at RAF Upper Heyford. Crashed and destroyed 29 April 1980 at Mapperton Farm Estate, near Almer, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Both crew - Capt Jack A. Hines and Capt Richard J. Franks - were killed. Judging by the dry grass, I'm sure this was taken in the summer of 76. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (original photo printed on rough photo paper that doesn't scan well)
F-111E. C.N. E-242. 55th FS taken at RAF Binbrook. A poor quality print taken in the rain, but it sure has the feeling of England. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 16 October, 1995 as AA FV0209. Departed AMARC to HVF West LLC Gov't Demil, scrapped probably in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
Piction ID: 83794569 Tomahawk cruise missile--Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---Note: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum
F-111F. C.N. 103. 495th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. An early photo a 495th TFS, (green), Jet. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 10 July 1996 as AA FV0289. Scrapped in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
F-111F. C.N. 98. 493rd FS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 10 July 1996 as AA FV0288. Scrapped in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide)
General-Dynamic F-16A Block20 MLU 15105 93-04569 Força-Aéra-Portuguesa Esquadra-301 Jaguarés
50years NATO NTM2019