You know that:
- In 1967, forward-thinking Colonel John Boyn assembled a team of outstanding designers called the "Fighter Mafia" to prepare a lighter, more maneuverable and cheaper aircraft to replace the aging F-104.
- The theory of "Energy and Maneuverability" of genius mathematician Thomas Christie was taken into account during the development of the machine.
- When the right people come together, the right thing happens, and that was the versatile F-16 fighter, which at the time of its entry into the United States' arsenal had no competitor.
- Immediately after the first tests, it was clear that the designers had succeeded in building an extraordinary aircraft that maintains aerial supremacy even after more than 50 years since its first takeoff.
- The fighter was designed to be deployed in any weather, day or night.
- The design of the fighter can withstand 9G overload, even with full tanks.
- It takes 2,500 hours of work (assembly + testing) to produce one F-16 fighter.
- Each aircraft contains 45,000 meters of electrical and optical cables.
- The Falcon is equipped with an advanced system of enemy weapon jamming.
- Royal Netherlands Air Force stands are being upgraded to Block 50/52 level. Equipped with new avionics, modern software and can carry the latest AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
- The Netherlands currently operates approximately 60 F-16 aircraft, which will gradually be replaced by the latest F-35 fighters.
- Thanks to constant modernization, the 4th and 5th generation aircraft are in demand and will continue in production until at least 2025.
- So far, more than 4,500 units have been produced in various versions.
- The price of one aircraft is around 20 000 000 €, depending on the equipment.
Technical parameters:
- dimensions: span 10 m, length 15.09 m, height 5.09 m
- maximum take-off weight 17,000 kg
- propulsion unit Pratt&Whitney F100-PW-220E Turbofan jet engine with 110 kN thrust
- volume of fuel tanks 3104 kg
- top speed 2,500 km/h
- climb rate 254 m/s
- maximum flight level 17,000 m
- maximum range of 2,700 km
- armament built-in rotary cannon M61A1 Vulkan caliber 20 mm (511 rounds) + guided missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-130 AMRAAM
- crew 1 person
F-16 pilot call sign Falcon:
"Let me put it this way. Imagine you are standing with your golf equipment at the top of Mont Blanc and you have to hit a 10.8 cm hole down in the valley. Isn't that impossible? Yes, but the F-16 can do that."
Assembly instructions
