Photograph:
General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon 92-894 at Avalon, VIC in April 2009 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single or two-seat fighter
Power Plant:
One 23,810 lbst Pratt & Whitney FS100-200 turbofan with afterburning
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.01 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Length: 14.52 m (47 ft 7¾ in)
- Height: 5.01 m (16 ft 5¼ in)
- Wing area: 27.87 m² (300 sq ft)
- Max speed at 10,970 m (36,000 ft): 2,074 km/h (1,289 mph)
- Combat radius: 925 km (575 miles)
- Ferry range with drop tanks: 3,705 km (2,303 miles)
- Service ceiling: 18,290 m (60.000 ft)
- Max rate of climb: 12,802 m/min (40,000 ft/min)
- Empty weight: 6,607 kg (14,567 lb)
- Max external load weight: 6,894 kg (15,200 lb)
- Max loaded weight with external stores: 14,968 kg (33,000 lb)
Armament:
Two 20 mm General Electric M61A-1 multi-barrel cannon in left fairing; Sidewinder infra-red homing missiles; Sparrow missiles for air-to-air interception; six underwing hardpoints for up to 6,894 kg (15,200 lb) of attack weapons or drop tanks
History:
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon series was designed as a small, lightweight, agile fighter for the United States armed services and has been one of the most prolific aircraft of its type in the world. Development commenced in February 1972 when General Dynamics, Boeing, Ling Temco Vought, Lockheed and Northrop submitted proposals for a new lightweight fighter. Shortly thereafter General Dynamics and Northrop were given contracts to build prototypes, the latter ending up with the very successful F-18 Hornet series. Selection of the F-16 was announced in 1975 and the type was chosen by a number of European air forces to replace Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. The United Staters Air Force (USAF) alone indicated it desired to obtain 1,400 examples.
The prototype YF-16 made its first flight on 20 January 1974 and eight development aircraft were built, six single-seaters and two two-seaters. The go-ahead to build 105 aircraft was given in 1978 and the first USAF unit to receive the type was the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The subsequent development and history of the F-16 in service around the world is too large to deal with here.
On 1 December 1998 the New Zealand Government announced it was going to lease 28 F-16s from the US Government to replace the Douglas A-4 Skyhawks then in service, the F-16s at that time being in storage at the AMARC centre in Arizona. These aircraft had been built for the Pakistan Air Force but the delivery did not take place due to an arms embargo placed on Pakistan by the United States Government. These aircraft comprised 13 single-seat F-16As and 15 two-seat F-16Bs, the plan being for the F-16As to be operated by No 2 Squadron RNZAF at Nowra, NSW and No 75 Squadron at Ohakea, both squadrons sharing the F-16Bs.
Four of the remaining F-16B models were to remain in storage as attrition airframes at the USAF Davis Monthan Air Base in Arizona, and two were to be broken down for spares.
The aircraft destined for the RNZAF were Model F-16A-15s to be finished in the standard USAF F-16 paint scheme, serials NZ6521 (c/n DG-1 – ex 90-0942) to NZ6534 (c/n DG-13 – ex 92-0410) being allotted for the F-16As; and NZ6541 (c/n DH-1 – ex 90-0948) to NZ6550 (c/n DH-15 – ex 92-0461) for the F-16Bs. All were fitted with the Pratt & Whitney FW100-200 engine.
In the event, following elections in New Zealand, after which a Labor Government took power in 2002, the contract was cancelled and the F-16s were not imported. The F-16s were then assigned to the USAF for test duties with the United States Navy (USN) to fill the aggressor role. Later, after an improvement in relations between the United States and Pakistan, it was decided to deliver the aircraft, together with a further 18 new F-16C/Ds, with an option on a further 18, to Pakistan. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawks then in RNZAF service were retired and offered for sale.
Over the years F-16s have visited aviation events in Australia, including the biennial Australian International Air Show held at Avalon, VIC. Other F-16s have visited during exercises and have been based for months at a time at Darwin, NT and Williamtown, NSW. F-16 Fighting Falcons from the USAF 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in 2017 were based at RAAF Base Williamtown for Exercise Diamond Shield. This exercise was aimed at the practical components of air warfare instructors courses, graduates of which were experts in Australian Defence Force (ADF) capabilities and integration across the services, having technical mastery of their own roles, platforms and systems.
On 22 September 2009 the US Air Force display team, the ‘Thunderbirds’, equipped with F-16s, arrived in Townsville, QLD and over the following weekend gave a display at an air show before returning to the United States.