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 19th and 33rd TFSs of the 363rd FW deployed from Shaw AFB in support of
“Operation Southern Watch”. On December 27, 1992 F-16DG 90-0778, commonly referred
to as “the family bus” was on a 4 hour flight adding flight hours so the aircraft could go to
phase inspection. The aircraft belonged to the 19th TFS but was on loan to the 33rd TFS
and flown by Captain Gary North with callsign “Benji 41”. During the flight Captain North
encountered an Iraqi Mig-25 Foxbat that had crossed the 32nd north parallel and entered
the no-fly zone. During the encounter Captain North fired an AIM-120 that destroyed the
Mig-25 making it the first time an AIM-120 missile was fired in combat and the first F-16 air-
to-air kill in “OSW”. In October 1993 the aircraft became the property of the 63rd FS/ 56th
FW.

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
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)
Height - 16 ft   (4.8 m)
Wingspan - 32 ft, 8 in   (9.8 m)
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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