General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
VENOMOUS VIPERS
The F-16 is the most successful fighter
program since the F-4 Phantom. This
lightweight fighter has matured into an
enormously capable airplane. In
competition with the Northrop YF-17
Cobra the YF-16 won the LWF
(lightweight fighter) fly-off in 1975. The
YF-17 would later be developed into
the F/A-18 Hornet for the US Navy.
The first production F-16s flew in
1976. After a couple years of testing
the F-16A entered USAF service in
1979 at Hill AFB, Utah. The F-16 would
go on and equip several USAF active
duty units as well as numerous Air
National Guard and Reserve units. It
would be produced in greater numbers
more than any other aircraft in the
USAF. The production run started in
1978 and continues today in 2010.
European nations purchased the
F-16 in large numbers in order to
replace their F-104 Starfighters.
Licence production agreements were
reached with Belgium, Denmark,
Norway and the Netherlands.
The F-16 was originally nicknamed
the Fighting Falcon after the USAF
Academy mascot. Shortly after
entering USAF service the pilots
started calling it the "Viper". The name
stuck and Viper is the most widely
used name for the F-16. Enjoy the
photos !
program since the F-4 Phantom. This
lightweight fighter has matured into an
enormously capable airplane. In
competition with the Northrop YF-17
Cobra the YF-16 won the LWF
(lightweight fighter) fly-off in 1975. The
YF-17 would later be developed into
the F/A-18 Hornet for the US Navy.
The first production F-16s flew in
1976. After a couple years of testing
the F-16A entered USAF service in
1979 at Hill AFB, Utah. The F-16 would
go on and equip several USAF active
duty units as well as numerous Air
National Guard and Reserve units. It
would be produced in greater numbers
more than any other aircraft in the
USAF. The production run started in
1978 and continues today in 2010.
European nations purchased the
F-16 in large numbers in order to
replace their F-104 Starfighters.
Licence production agreements were
reached with Belgium, Denmark,
Norway and the Netherlands.
The F-16 was originally nicknamed
the Fighting Falcon after the USAF
Academy mascot. Shortly after
entering USAF service the pilots
started calling it the "Viper". The name
stuck and Viper is the most widely
used name for the F-16. Enjoy the
photos !
