View allAll Photos Tagged generaldynamics
USAF F-16D Fighting Falcon s/n 90-0835 of the 416th Flight Test Squadron, fires a HARM missile over the China Lake test range, 24 Sep 2000. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tom Reynolds.
PictionID:54636633 - Catalog:14_035124 - Title:GD/Astronautics Testing Details: Testing of Zero G Test Vehicle Date: 08/11/1961 - Filename:14_035124.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
F-16A Block 15E. C.N. 61-404. 186th FS at Great Falls. Withdrawn from service to Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls around October 2002 for display. Moved by flatbed truck to Tyndall AFB to be put on display in front of the Killey Center for Homeland Operations around 13 September, 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide dated August 2003)
F-111F. C.N. 84. 48th TFW Commanders Jet. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 8 January 1996 as AA FV0248. Was not scrapped with the rest of the F-111 fleet in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
Willard Martin (b. 1917) held various jobs before he was hired by Convair San Diego as a metal worker. For the next 30 years, Martin worked at Convair, eventually serving much of his career as the Operations General Supervisor, a task that involved supervising experiment department operations, engineering test lap support, model shop operations, mockup and wind tunnel support. In addition, he managed all instrumentation fabrication, installation and field support operations for the Cruise Missile Program and others. In 1976, he was elected by members of the National Management Association, General Dynamics Convair Chapter, as Director of Public Relations from 1976 to 1977.
Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive
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. These older models of F-16s will remain in service until probably 2020 at least, to be replaced by the F-35A Lightning II.
Dad took this beautiful picture of Thunderbird One in the Thunderbirds' home hangar at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The aircraft is as spotless as the floor! The name on the canopy is Lieutenant Colonel Roger Riggs, who was team leader for the 1986-1987 season.
J-879 is a General-Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. © Bert Visser
Piction ID: 83794829 Tomahawk demonstrates terminal dive mode of attack--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
PictionID:54636755 - Catalog:14_035134 - Title:Atlas Centaur Testing Details: Centaur Nose Cone Venting Prior to Test Date: 11/29/1961 - Filename:14_035134.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
F-111F. C.N. 56. 494th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 4 January 1996 as AA FV0244. Escaped the F-111 purge of June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide)
General Dynamics F-16C "Fighting Falcon" 91-0376 (SW)
0376 (MSN CC-80)
1993: TOS USAF.
1993: 363rd Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC
1994: 78th FS, 20th FW, Shaw AFB, SC.
1994: 79th FS, 20th FW, Shaw AFB, SC.
1999: Deployed to Aviano AB, Italy for combat missions over Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force
2003: 77th FS, 20th FW, Shaw AFB, SC.
2012: Deployed to the Middle East to fly combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
2015: Active with 13th Fighter Squadron/35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
91-0376
SW
F-16CM-50-CF
CC-74
77th FS
Active
Dec 2006
Oct 2020
'20 FW'
Willard Martin (b. 1917) held various jobs before he was hired by Convair San Diego as a metal worker. For the next 30 years, Martin worked at Convair, eventually serving much of his career as the Operations General Supervisor, a task that involved supervising experiment department operations, engineering test lap support, model shop operations, mockup and wind tunnel support. In addition, he managed all instrumentation fabrication, installation and field support operations for the Cruise Missile Program and others. In 1976, he was elected by members of the National Management Association, General Dynamics Convair Chapter, as Director of Public Relations from 1976 to 1977.
Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive
F-111F. C.N. 55. 494th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Flew in Operation Eldorado Canyon. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 18 October, 1995 as AA FV0216. Scrapped in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide)
88103253 :Piction ID--Tomahawk missile models---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
A very early Block 1 F-16 pictured within days of arriving at Edwards. Written off following an engine fire in November 89 and used as an instructional airframe at Misawa AB, Japan.
PictionID:48523227 - Catalog:14_026430 - Title:GD/Astronautics Details: Mock Up of D/IOC Missile; View Forward-Access Door Opened Date: 08/07/1958 - Filename:14_026430.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
General dynamics F-16C block 50 de la Türk Hava Kuvvetleri. Il appartient au 192 Filo et porte le numéro de série 93-0679. Il a participé en 2011 au cinquantième anniversaire du Nato Tiger Meet sur la base de Cambrai en France. Le 192 Filo est stationné sur la base de Balikesir en Turquie.
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PictionID:54636706 - Catalog:14_035130 - Title:Atlas Centaur Testing Details: Overall View of Centaur-Coast Phase Test Stand Date: 11/28/1961 - Filename:14_035130.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
RTAF Lockheed Martin F-16B Fighting Falcon Block 20 MLU of 403 Sqn. Anniversary markings for 20 years of F-16 operations within 403 Sqn - Pitch Black 2016
Registration: Kh19-?
Code: 40305
Serial No: 90036
Aircraft No: 90-7036
LM Aero T/V: HP-5
The lessons of the Vietnam War brought home to the USAF that the dogfight was not yet obsolete, as missile-armed F-4 Phantom IIs struggled against comparatively primitive but extremely agile North Vietnamese MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighters. The USAF had already begun its F-X program to succeed the F-4 as well as counter the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat; this became the F-15 Eagle.
However, as the F-X was going to be a large interceptor, American fighter tactician John Boyd was among those who proposed a lighter, smaller, and more agile dogfighter to complement the F-X. Overcoming a great deal of opposition, this “fighter mafia” eventually got the USAF to sponsor a Lightweight Fighter (LWF) competition beginning in March 1972, which Boeing, Northrop, and General Dynamics all submitted designs to, despite no guarantee of an eventual sale.
Eventually the General Dynamics YF-16A Fighting Falcon and Northrop YF-17 Cobra won the competition, prototypes were built, and the competition opened anew. The YF-16A, which had accidentally made its first flight during a high-speed taxi test in January 1973, won the competition, and the USAF, which had by now warmed to the idea of a low-cost day fighter, placed an initial order of no less than 650 aircraft. In addition to this number, a European consortium of Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway had decided on the F-16 to replace the F-104G Starfighter in the strike role, to be built under license in Belgium and the Netherlands. The F-16A entered service in October 1980.
Built to be agile above all other considerations, the F-16 is indeed that. Made deliberately unstable, the F-16 can be flown only by fly-by-wire microprocessors (leading to an early nickname, “Electric Jet”) and is easily capable of making turns in excess of 9Gs. To better resist these forces, the pilot’s seat is inclined 30 degrees, but the F-16 remains able to take more punishment than the pilot. In contrast to the YF-16 prototype, production models had larger tailplanes for better stability (though a few “small tail” F-16A Block 15s remained in service until the late 1990s) and a larger nose to house the APG-66 radar. Since the LWF concept called for a day fighter, the F-16A lacked BVR capability, relying on its internal M61 Vulcan gun and AIM-9 Sidewinders for dogfighting. Almost by accident, the F-16 was found to be able to carry a great deal of ordnance with minimal loss of performance, making it an excellent strike and air support aircraft, though it lacked all-weather capability.
Besides the European NATO nations, the F-16 was also exported to Israel, and there it found its first successes, participating in the long-range strike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak in June 1981. A year later, Israeli F-16s shot down 44 Syrian MiGs in air combat over the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. Most F-16As received the Block 15 MSIP upgrade, introducing a wide-angle HUD and the ability to carry the AGM-45 Shrike antiradar missile, the AGM-65 Maverick ground attack missile, and the AGM-119 Penguin antiship missile, as well as engine upgrades and a more robust internal ECM suite.
Though increasingly replaced by the F-16C/D series, F-16A/B models remain in service worldwide. NATO aircraft received the MLU upgrade beginning in 1989, giving them only slightly lesser capability than the F-16C/D; this includes an uprated computer, upgraded avionics, and the ability to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM as well as the full plethora of precision-guided weapons. In addition, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Venezuela still operate small numbers of F-16A/Bs, most of them upgraded to one extent or another.
Dad had an older F-16A (built from the 1/48 Revell kit), and decided to "update" it to better reflect current Israeli F-16As. As such, it has a different cockpit and tail ECM bulges (provided by an IsraDecal update set), and is painted in standard IDF/AF F-16 camouflage of tan, brown, and mint green over medium gray; the tail markings on this particular F-16 are in Hebrew, with the Roman numeral moved to the rear fuselage. It is configured for pure dogfighting, with six AIM-9L Sidewinders and two drop tanks. It also wears the patch of 117 Squadron, based at Ramat David.
87993534 :Piction ID--Dart Convair in flight---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
C.N. A1-79. Original A model converted to EF-111A (EF-38) by Grumman. 42nd ECS at RAF Upper Heyford. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 28 May, 1998 as AA FV0333. Photo Date: 3 June, 1988. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
The true identity of this Raven is a bit confusing. Yes, the tail is marked as 66-0042, however the nose gear door is marked 734. The photo is marked on the back 67-0034. if someone was at Heyford and can clear this up, PLEEZE do! The nickname is "Let em eat crow"
PictionID:44933016 - Catalog:14_015881 - Title:Atlas 2C Details: Static Firing on Missile 2C; Sycamore Canyon, S-1 Date: 01/06/1959 - Filename:14_015881.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
General Dynamics F-16A block 15 de l'US Navy. Cet avion numéro de série 90-0942 fait partie du NSAWC le Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. Le NSAWC a pour mission la formation des pilotes de chasse de l'US Navy et de l'US Marine corps aux tactiques du combat aérien. Le NSAWC est stationné sur la base de Fallon (NAS Fallon) dans le Nevada.
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F-111F. C.N. 30. 495th TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 8 April 1996 as AA FV0268. Scrapped at AMARC in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide)
General Dynamics F-16C USAF;block 50;90-0831/cn:CC-31 from the 179th FS,Duluth is coming in for landing at Leeuwarden AB on April 2nd, 2019
U.S. Air Force General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin)
F-16C 84-1236
"Desert" camouflage contributes to its role as an "aggressor" aircraft. Note that the Air Combat Command insignia on the vertical stabilizer is severely weathered.
Red Flag 19-2
Nellis Air Force Base
Las Vegas, Nevada
Frisian Flag Leeuwarden
0406 (MSN CC-104)
Active in January 1995 as F-16C with 23rd Fighter Squadron/52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem, Germany
and in April 2019 as F-16CM with 179th Fighter Squadron/148th Fighter Wing
Minnesota ANG at Duluth ANG Base.
PictionID:44933076 - Catalog:14_015886 - Title:Sycamore Canyon Details: Site S-2 Testing on Missile Date: 06/18/1959 - Filename:14_015886.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