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.

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.

General specifications F-16 Fighting Falcon

Primary Function – 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

Dimensions
Length - 49 ft, 5 in   (14.8 m)
Height - 16 ft   (4.8 m)
Wingspan - 32 ft, 8 in   (9.8 m)

Performance
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)
Speed - 1,500 mph   (Mach 2 @ altitude)
Ceiling - Above 50,000 ft   (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
External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles
Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions
Electronic countermeasure pods.

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