General Dynamics F-16 "Viper"*

Picture 4.1: An United States F-16

A new generation of planes

As the time passed by, the aircraft became more and more associated with hi-tech. Brakes-through made in the 1960 allowed creation of more powerful engines, faster onboard systems and lighter alloys for the body of the aircraft. As the result, the aircraft design became very dependent on the computers. Computers began appearing in the aircraft itself, helping to achieve better performance. The pilots have changed: they had to adopt themselves to the higher position the technology had in flight. As a result there was an enormous rise in aircraft effectively. F-14 was one of the first useful fighter airplanes built using the new research. It was followed by the F-15, that instantly became even more versatile. But as the "Cold War" began to fade, and American public began to doubt the high expenses on building and maintaining the aircraft, there was a need for another philosophy of plane. It had to be fast, cheap, versatile, capable of every kind of fight, sophisticated - in general effective. Such an aircraft could become the backbone of the modernized cut-down air force, and such an economical combination of properties would be affordable to the allies.

Picture 4.2: A F-15 in flight.

Description

F-16 was intended to become such an aircraft. F-16 carries sophisticated electronics systems that cover its lower combat redundancy (single-engined aircraft cannot have back-up engine power). F-16 intended to be swift and fast, a concept that is closer to a fighter than to a ground-attack aircraft. Even though, it is capable of supporting ground troops. The range in the ground attack role is 860 km. It can deliver its bombs and missiles with superior accuracy, to defend itself from other planes and return to base safely. It also has all-weather flying capabilities. Its bubble canopy and cockpit construction gives pilot excellent all-sides vision and comfort. The F-16A is a single-seat model. It flew for the first time in December 1976 and it was delivered to U.S. Army in January 1979. The F-16B is two seat version and it can be used for training (the student pilot uses the forward cockpit and the instructor pilot uses the rear cockpit). Later a few electronic enhancements were added and it led to the new versions: the single-seat F-16C and the double-seat F-16D. The F-16's are manufactured by United States, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway. The F-16C/Ds replaced the older and less sophisticated F-16A/B. The F-16A/B were converted into the National Guard F-16ADF version. RF-16C/F-16R is a surveillance version with the ATARS package. The F-16s were used in the Gulf War in 1991 for ground attack purposes. Modified F-16s are produced in Japan by Mitsubishi, under the designation FS-X. The F-16XL version with special delta wing is used in NASA in the "sonic boom" research. The F-16 is used by Israel Air Force since 1980. F-16 are produced in Turkey (by TAI), in Belgium (SABCA) and the Netherlands (Focker). About 2900 have been produced up until 1992.

Picture 4.3: A pair of F-16 in formation.

Fact Sheet

Table 4.1 F-16's fact sheet - part I.

Picture 4.4: A schematic picture of an F-16.

Table 4.2 F-16's fact sheet - part II