Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-16>HA3882
Lockheed F-16C 88-0454, 8th FS “Black Sheep” Holloman AFB, 2017
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
On August 4, 2017 the 8th Fighter Squadron was re-activated after 6 years of inactivation. The
ceremony took place at Holloman AFB, New Mexico and the 8th FS will join the 311th and 314th
FSs as part of the 54th FG under the control of the 56th FW. There will be more than 40 F-16s
based here. These squadron’s duties will be to qualify new and former F-16 pilots. F-16C
88-0454 was completed in late 1989 and spent time with 5 squadrons before being assigned to
the 8th FS as their flagship.
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. |