View allAll Photos Tagged generaldynamics
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon
"Dream Viper" Solo Display
Belgische Luftwaffe / Belgian Air Force
ZigAirMeet 2023, Mollis, Schweiz
F-111F. C.N. 24. 493rd TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 6 November 1995 as AA FV0226. Scrapped in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide dated May 1980)
F-111E. C.N. E-185. 55th TFS at RAF Upper Heyford. Judging by the condition of the grass, I'm sure this was taken in the summer of 76. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 2 April, 1993 as AA FV0160. Departed AMARC to HVF West Yard 10 January, 2012 (Scrapped). Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (original photo printed on rough photo paper which doesn't scan well)
General Dynamics YF-16A "Fighting Falcon" AFTI/F-16 75-0750
General Dynamics F-16XL/A "Cranked Wing" 75-0749
Photo taken - Edwards AFB 1982
Aircraft: 75-0750
LM Aero T/V: 61-6
Plant: General Dynamics
Local C/N:
Delivered USAF: 50750 F-16A
1978 - Assigned USAF 6516 TS
A full-systems F-16A which was used for avionics systems testing and reliability and maintainability testing in the F-16 FSD and FSD follow-on test programs.
1978 - The nose was modified to house the APG-65 radar which was more powerful. It is the radar used in the F/A-18.
1979 - Used for electromagnetic hardness ground testing at Kirtland AFB.
1980 - Stored. To General Dynamics at Fort Worth for modification work (AFTI).
1982 - Dorsal Spine. The 6th Full-Scale Development (FSD) aircraft was modified as Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) testbed, which included the canards from the YF-16 CCV and a dorsal spine. The dorsal spine would eventually make it to some production model F-16s. First program was the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) in which a total of 108 flights were executed until July of 1983.
1984 - The second program within the AFTI framework was the Automated Maneuvering Attack System (AMAS) which lasted until April of 1987.
1987 - To General Dynamics at Fort Worth for modification work.
1988 - In the late eighties, the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 testbed (formerly the 6th FDS aircraft) was fitted with a dorsal spine, wing-root mounted Lantirn-style pods, and FLIR turrets on the nose. It was also upgraded with an F-16C block 25 wing and with block 40 F-16C features such as APG-68 radar and a LANTIRN interface. It was used as a CAS testbed in support of the proposed A-16, testing low-level battlefield interdiction techniques such as automatic target handoff-systems. This program lasted until January of 1992.
1992 - Stored. To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work.
1993 - Used in the Talon Sword Bravo test program which demonstrated cooperative engagement techniques where the aircraft fires at a target based on targeting information datalinked from a distant sensor. The weapon principally investigated was the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).
1994 - To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work.
1995 - Used jointly by NASA and the USAF at Edwards AFB, California for the Embedded Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation System (EGI) program, including evaluation of the reliability of GPS in jamming environments.
1996 - Used in the Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) program.
1997 - Stored. To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work (J/IST).
2000 - NASA dropped out of the AFTI testing program and the aircraft continued to be tested by the USAF. This includes testing for the "Power-by-Wire" technology and testing for the F-35 program under the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Subsystem Technologies (J/IST) program.
2001 - Preserved. Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio located in the experimental aircraft hangar. It was flown into the museum on February 11th, 2001 having been retired just the previous month on January 9th, 2001.
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.
Thunderbird 10 is officially assigned to the executive officer of the team--during the 2017 season, Captain Angelina Urbina. The aircraft flies with the team as a spare in case another Thunderbird is "downed" with mechanical issues. At the Wings Over the Falls airshow in Great Falls, MT in July 2017, it was sitting in one of the 120th Airlift Wing's hangars, which provided me and a lot of other photographers an excellent opportunity for pictures, and a fine study of a magnificent aircraft.
The Thunderbirds color scheme is iconic and needs no explanation. The small patch to the left of the flag display is a USAF 70th anniversary sticker. Since Capt. Urbina is from Helena, she got quite the warm reception from the airshow crowd!
PictionID:54636730 - Catalog:14_035132 - Title:Atlas Centaur Testing Details: Centaur Jettison Nose Cone Test; Pt. Loma Date: 11/29/1961 - Filename:14_035132.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
Florennes, 20 May 2009.
Taking off from Florennes in Belgium during a TLP course. Tactical Leadership Programme.
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
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 crowd at the Wings Over the Falls airshow in July 2017 were able to get fairly close to where the Thunderbirds taxied out. Here Thunderbird 5, the lead solo aircraft, heads out to the runway, with a little wave to the crowd. The inverted 5 is a Thunderbirds tradition, since the lead solo spends a lot of time upside down during the show. Thunderbird 5 was Major Alex Turner for the 2017 season.
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
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 Thunderbirds were parked at show center, which made it easy to get some good pictures of the whole team. This was several hours before the Thunderbirds' performance, so there was very little activity around the aircraft at the time. The F-16D on the right is normally used to fly the narrator and the operations officer for the squadron, but it can serve as a spare aircraft if needed. After the pilots manned their aircraft, Thunderbird 4 experienced engine trouble and was "downed" by the crew chief. They towed the two-seater out, the pilot of Thunderbird 4 switched planes, and he flew the two-seater for the entire show--even though it still had the centerline belly tank attached.
I may be bad luck for the Thunderbirds: the last time I saw them, in 2005, they also had engine trouble, that time with Thunderbird 3, and flew the show with one aircraft missing.
F-111E. C.N. E-199. 55th TFS from RAF Upper Heyford. Photo taken at RAF Greenham Common, July, 1983. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 3 November, 1993 as AA FV0190. Departed AMARC to HVF West Yard 10 January, 2012. Scrapped probably in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
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.
Here the Thunderbirds make a slow pass for the camera--hence why I was able to get the shot despite owning a fairly cheap camera! The team is in the diamond formation, which is used by the Thunderbirds as their "default" formation. This is a slightly expanded diamond; the team is often no more than three feet from each other in the diamond. This picture was taken at the Wings Over the Falls airshow in Great Falls, MT in July 2017.
F-111E. C.N. E-221. 77th TFS at RAF Upper Heyford. These two poor quality photo's may have been taken at Upper Heyford. 052 crashed 17 September, 1991 upon landing at UH. Both crew killed. Photo credit's: Unknown to me (Original Photo Scan) Pre-1972 photo.
86287815 :Piction ID--Convair 880 before ceremony---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
F-111F. C.N. 25. 493rd TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Flew in Operation Eldorado Canyon. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 8 January, 1996 as AA FV0247. Scrapped June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide dated August 1980)
F-111E. C.N. E-224. 55th FS at RAF Upper Heyford. One of the last three F-111's to depart RAF Upper Heyford 11 December, 1994. In 2013 on display at Robins AFB, Georgia. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
F-111F. C.N. 7. 492nd TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Crashed 2 May 1990 near Binham, Norfolk due to engine fire caused by first-stage fan disc failure. Crew ejected safely. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
PictionID:54636694 - Catalog:14_035129 - Title:Atlas Centaur Testing Details: Centaur-Showing Camera Set Up Date: 11/20/1961 - Filename:14_035129.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
Markings: 64th AGRS, as part of the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, 57th Wing
SN:87-280
Specifications (F-16C Block 30)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 49 ft 5 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,670 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
Powerplant: 1× F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (128.9 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed:
At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)
At altitude: Mach 2+ (1,500 mph, 2,414 km/h)
Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nm, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
Ferry range: 2,280 NM (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
Service ceiling: 60,000+ ft (18,000+ m)
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
Wing loading: 88.3 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.095
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun, 515 rounds
Hardpoints: 2× wing-tip Air-to-air missile launch rails, 6× under-wing & 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 20,450 lb (9,276 kg) of payload
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× /7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively) or
4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets) or
4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets)
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
2× AIM-7 Sparrow or
6× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
6× IRIS-T or
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM or
6× Python-4
Air-to-ground missiles:
6× AGM-45 Shrike or
6× AGM-65 Maverick or
4× AGM-88 HARM
Anti-ship missiles:
2× AGM-84 Harpoon or
4× AGM-119 Penguin
Bombs:
2× CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
2× CBU-89 Gator mine
2× CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
4× GBU-10 Paveway II
6× GBU-12 Paveway II
6× Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
4× JDAM
4× Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
8× Mark 83 GP bombs
12× Mark 82 GP bombs
B61 nuclear bomb
Others:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods or
up to 3× 300/330/370 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/APG-68 radar
F-111E. C.N. E-219. 55th TFS from RAF Upper Heyford. Photo taken at RAF Greenham Common in July 1983. Last served with the 428th FS. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 11 October, 1995 as AA FV0205. Departed AMARC 9 January, 2012 to HVF West Yard (scrapped probably in June 2012). Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-196 (c/n 83-1196), 313 sqn, RNLAF (Royal Netherlands Air Force) at Ørland (MAS) Norway, NATO Tiger Meet 2012 (photo 0116-1)
F-16AM E-008 of 727 Sqn Royal Danish Air Force is about to land at Leeuwarden on 3 april 2014. © Bert Visser
Markings:308th Fighter Squadron (308 FS) is part of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
SN:87-0356
Specifications (F-16C Block 30)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 49 ft 5 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,670 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
Powerplant: 1× F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (128.9 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed:
At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)
At altitude: Mach 2+ (1,500 mph, 2,414 km/h)
Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nm, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
Ferry range: 2,280 NM (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
Service ceiling: 60,000+ ft (18,000+ m)
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
Wing loading: 88.3 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.095
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun, 515 rounds
Hardpoints: 2× wing-tip Air-to-air missile launch rails, 6× under-wing & 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 20,450 lb (9,276 kg) of payload
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× /7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively) or
4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets) or
4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets)
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
2× AIM-7 Sparrow or
6× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
6× IRIS-T or
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM or
6× Python-4
Air-to-ground missiles:
6× AGM-45 Shrike or
6× AGM-65 Maverick or
4× AGM-88 HARM
Anti-ship missiles:
2× AGM-84 Harpoon or
4× AGM-119 Penguin
Bombs:
2× CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
2× CBU-89 Gator mine
2× CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
4× GBU-10 Paveway II
6× GBU-12 Paveway II
6× Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
4× JDAM
4× Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
8× Mark 83 GP bombs
12× Mark 82 GP bombs
B61 nuclear bomb
Others:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods or
up to 3× 300/330/370 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/APG-68 radar
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-111E. C.N. E-191. 77th TFS from RAF Upper Heyford at a NATO Tiger Meet? Last served with the 428th FS / 27th FW. Withdrawn from service to AMARC 15 December, 1995 as AA FV0239. Departed AMARC to HVF West Yard 8 November, 2011 (scrapped probably in June 2012). Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)
General Dynamics F-16C "Fighting Falcon" 87-0267 (WA-67)
General Dynamics F-16C "Fighting Falcon" 84-1236 (WA-36)
64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS), Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
General Dynamics YF-16A "Fighting Falcon" 75-0750
Photo taken - Edwards AFB 1982
Aircraft: 75-0750
LM Aero T/V: 61-6
Plant: General Dynamics
Local C/N:
Delivered USAF: 50750 F-16A
1978 - Assigned USAF 6516 TS
A full-systems F-16A which was used for avionics systems testing and reliability and maintainability testing in the F-16 FSD and FSD follow-on test programs.
1978 - The nose was modified to house the APG-65 radar which was more powerful. It is the radar used in the F/A-18.
1979 - Used for electromagnetic hardness ground testing at Kirtland AFB.
1980 - Stored. To General Dynamics at Fort Worth for modification work (AFTI).
1982 - Dorsal Spine. The 6th Full-Scale Development (FSD) aircraft was modified as Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) testbed, which included the canards from the YF-16 CCV and a dorsal spine. The dorsal spine would eventually make it to some production model F-16s. First program was the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) in which a total of 108 flights were executed until July of 1983.
1984 - The second program within the AFTI framework was the Automated Maneuvering Attack System (AMAS) which lasted untill April of 1987.
1987 - To General Dynamics at Fort Worth for modification work.
1988 - In the late eighties, the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 testbed (formerly the 6th FDS aircraft) was fitted with a dorsal spine, wing-root mounted Lantirn-style pods, and FLIR turrets on the nose. It was also upgraded with an F-16C block 25 wing and with block 40 F-16C features such as APG-68 radar and a LANTIRN interface. It was used as a CAS testbed in support of the proposed A-16, testing low-level battlefield interdiction techniques such as automatic target handoff-systems. This program lasted untill January of 1992.
1992 - Stored. To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work.
1993 - Used in the Talon Sword Bravo test program which demonstrated cooperative engagement techniques where the aircraft fires at a target based on targeting information datalinked from a distant sensor. The weapon principally investigated was the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).
1994 - To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work.
1995 - Used jointly by NASA and the USAF at Edwards AFB, California for the Embedded Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation System (EGI) program, including evaluation of the reliability of GPS in jamming environments.
1996 - Used in the Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) program.
1997 - Stored. To Lockheed at Fort Worth for modification work (J/IST).
2000 - NASA dropped out of the AFTI testing program and the aircraft continued to be tested by the USAF. This includes testing for the "Power-by-Wire" technology and testing for the F-35 program under the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Subsystem Technologies (J/IST) program.
2001 - Preserved. Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio located in the experimental aircraft hangar. It was flown into the museum on February 11th, 2001 having been retired just the previous month on January 9th, 2001.
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 100th Fighter Squadron "Red Tails" of the 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard from Dannelly Field participating in Red Flag 17-2 exercises at Nellis AFB.
The 100th Fighter Squadron was re-activated in 2007 to honor the legacy of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.
Serial Number unknown. Date: 1976?. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (original photo printed on rough paper which doesn't scan well)
One of the 80's and 90's standard set piece routines flown at the RAF Mildenhall Air Fete's were the fly-by of a trio or more of the fabulous swing-wing F-111E 'Aardvarks' - based at RAF Upper Heyford
These three were demonstrating the various wing sweep configurations whilst maintaining close formation at the RAF Mildenhall Air Fete - May 1993
An old 35mm transparency scanned with a Plustek 7600i Ai film and neg scanner, photo-shop and then Neat Image
The tail of FA-86, a General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon operated by 350 Smaldeel of the Belgian Air Component, on static display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2022 (RIAT 22) held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England.
The aircraft wears a special scheme on its tail to commemorate the squadron's 80th anniversary.
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Stock photography by Marco McGinty at Alamy
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USAF 89-2151 - General Dynamics F-16C Block 42 Fighting Falcon - US Air Force (Ohio ANG)
180 FW - 112 FS "Stingers"
at London/ON International Airport (YXU) during the 2016 Air Show
F-111F. C.N. 18. 493rd TFS at RAF Lakenheath. Withdrawn from Service to AMARC 18 October 1995 as AA FV0217. Scrapped in June 2012. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Kodachrome Slide dated 16 May 1981)
Markings: 56th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Luke.
SN: 83-9056
Specifications (F-16C Block 30)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 49 ft 5 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,670 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
Powerplant: 1× F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (128.9 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed:
At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)
At altitude: Mach 2+ (1,500 mph, 2,414 km/h)
Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nm, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
Ferry range: 2,280 NM (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
Service ceiling: 60,000+ ft (18,000+ m)
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
Wing loading: 88.3 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.095
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun, 515 rounds
Hardpoints: 2× wing-tip Air-to-air missile launch rails, 6× under-wing & 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 20,450 lb (9,276 kg) of payload
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× /7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively) or
4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets) or
4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets)
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
2× AIM-7 Sparrow or
6× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
6× IRIS-T or
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM or
6× Python-4
Air-to-ground missiles:
6× AGM-45 Shrike or
6× AGM-65 Maverick or
4× AGM-88 HARM
Anti-ship missiles:
2× AGM-84 Harpoon or
4× AGM-119 Penguin
Bombs:
2× CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
2× CBU-89 Gator mine
2× CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
4× GBU-10 Paveway II
6× GBU-12 Paveway II
6× Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
4× JDAM
4× Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
8× Mark 83 GP bombs
12× Mark 82 GP bombs
B61 nuclear bomb
Others:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods or
up to 3× 300/330/370 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/APG-68 radar
The F-16N grew out of a requirement by the US Navy for an advanced adversary dissimilar fighter trainer to replace aging A-4E/F Skyhawks. Using the Block 30 F-16C/D as a basis, the F-16N was downgraded, as it was not anticipated to ever see actual combat. The APG-68 radar was replaced with the APG-66, the internal structure was strengthened to better handle the stress of low-level manuevering, and while the F-16N can carry Sidewinders, it is not equipped to fire or drop any other ordnance, and the M61 Vulcan gatling cannon is removed.
18 F-16Ns and four two-seat TF-16Ns were delivered beginning in 1987 to Top Gun, the US Navy’s fighter training school. With the temporary reduction in aggressor squadrons during the mid-1990s and due to wing cracking, the F-16N force was retired in 1995, though the Navy has since bought ex-Pakistani F-16C/Ds as aggressors.
Dad used the 1/48 scale Hasegawa kit for his F-16N, meant to represent Kenyatta Patterson's aircraft from his novel "Desert Horizons." For the most part it is out of the box, painted in two shades of light and medium gray over blue-gray. It is equipped with a single inert AIM-9 Sidewinder and a DACT instrumentation pod. (Patterson's callsign "Cheetah" is a reference to the character being a marathon runner; though it can't be seen from this angle, it has gear door art of a grinning Garfield with the legend "Never trust a smiling cat," taken from an A-10 decal sheet.)