The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.[2] Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation,[3]which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.[4]

The Fighting Falcon is a fighter with numerous innovations including a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, a seat reclined 30 degrees to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system helps to make it a nimble aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other mission equipment. The F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", but "Viper" is commonly used by its pilots, due to a perceived resemblance to a viper snake as well as the Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper starfighter.[5][6]

In addition to active duty U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air National Guard units, the aircraft is also used by the USAF aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16 has also been procured to serve in the air forces of 25 other nations.[7]

Length
49.3 ft /
15.03 m
Height
16.7 ft /
5.09 m
Wingspan
32.8 ft /
10.0 m
Wing area
300 sq ft /
27.87 sq m
Weight empty
20,300 lb /
9,207.9 kg
Maximum take-off weight
48,000 lb /
21,772 kg
Internal fuel
5,920 lb /
2,685.2 kg
Speed
1,500 mph
(Mach 2 at altitude)
Range1,740 n. mi
Power plant
One Pratt & Whitney
F100-PW-200/220/229

or

One General Electric
F110-GE-100/129
Engine thrust
F110-GE-129 29,500 lb

F100-PW-229 29,100 lb

For more information go to f-16.net/

Additional Notes

Created by AirforeCraft, Edited by STEALTHy. With support of the Military Builders Team