F-16C Fighting Falcon - 75th Anniversary Scheme of 457th FS - Nov 2020

General Background

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the "Viper"; and will remain in USAF service until 2025.

The Aircraft

F-16C 86-0246 was completed in 1987 assigned the 23 TFS and then the 149th TFS. In 2007 the F-16 became the property of the 457th “Spads” TFS unit at NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The 457th formed in 1944 so to honor the unit’s 75th Anniversary in 2019 they painted 86-0246 in a Lone Star State scheme with representations of the various aircraft the unit has flown over the 75 years. Due to unforeseen problems it wasn’t available until November 2020.

Specifications

• Role: Multi-role fighter
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics Corp. / Lockheed Martin Corp
• Initial Unit cost : F-16C/D, $20 million plus
• First Deployed: January 1979
• (F-16A)Crew : 1 x F-16C / 1 or 2 x F-16D
• Power Plant
• F-16C/D
• 1 x Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or
• 1 x General Electric F110-GE-100/129
• Thrust: F-16C/D / 27,000 lb (12,150 kg)
• Length: 49 ft, 5 in (14.8 m)
• Wingspan 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
• Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
• Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 @ altitude)
• Ceiling: Above 50,000 (15 km)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 37,500 lb (16,875 kg)
• Range: Greater than 2,425 mi (2,100 nm / 3,900 km)
• Combat Radius
• F-16C 851.6 mi (1,370 km / 740 nm) w/ 2 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 U.S. gal external tanks
• 391.3 mi (630 km / 340 nm) w/ 4 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 340 U.S. gal external tanks
• 230.2 mi (370 km / 200 nm) + 2 hr. 10 min. patrol w/ 2 x AIM-7 + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 lb U.S. gal external tanks
• Armament
• 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds
• 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds
• External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles
• Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions
• Electronic countermeasure pods.