F-16 FIGHTING FALCON
Initially developed by General Dynamics, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine, Mach 2 capable, multirole fighter. Using advanced aerodynamics and an innovative relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire (RSS/FBW) flight control system.
With the experience of air combat in the Vietnam War fresh in the collective conscious, the United States Air Force began the search for a low-cost, easy to maintain fighter capable of dominating modern Soviet Block designs. Five companies responded to the challenge with two, General Dynamics with its YF-16 and Northrop’s YF-17 being selected to further develop their designs.
After an exhaustive competition the YF-16 surpassed the Northrop design with significantly lower operating costs, greater range, and overwhelming praise from pilots for its exceptional maneuverability. The F-16 entered operational service in 1980 and its variants remain in service with 29 countries today.
The F-16 is scheduled to be replaced by the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning ll in front-line units but the Viper figures to soldier on in the ANG and Reserves and in foreign air forces for decades to come.
The museum’s F-16A block 10 serial number 79365 entered service with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB Nevada in January 1981. 89th Fighter Squadron Wright-Patterson AFB before being sent to AMARC in 1994. The aircraft was recovered by MFAM personnel in 2024.
First Flight – February 2, 1974
First Use – August 17, 1978
Crew – 1
Wingspan – 31 feet
Length – 49.3 feet
Height – 16.7 feet
Engines – One General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan
Max Speed –1,500+ mph
Service Ceiling – 50,000 feet
Range – 295 NM (Combat Range)
Armament – 1 × 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon, 511 rounds
2 × wing-tip air-to-air missile launch rails, 6 × under-wing, and 3 × under-fuselage pylon (2 of 3 for sensors) stations with a capacity of up to 17,000 lb of munitions.
Manufacturer – General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
Total Built – 4,604