General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon. GAV 2287-238
In 1971 a specification was issued for a lightweight fighter, with the following requirements : A weight of 9,000kg (20,000lb); superb maneuvrability, even if it's at the expense of top speed; small size and low cost. General Dynamics was one of the companies chosen to design a prototype. The other was Northrop with a prototype designated YF-17. The YF-16 first took to the sky on 20 January 1974, with the second prototype on 9 May of the same year. Northrop's YF-17 first flew in June 1974. After the evaluation process the YF-16 was found to be far superior to the YF-17, and in January 1975 the F-16 was declared the winner. The initial variants of the F-16 were the F-16A and F-16B. The A-model was a single-seat combat aircraft and the B-model a two-seat trainer, but still fully combat-ready. During the 1980's these were replaced with the C- and D-models, which had upgraded engines and avionics. The F-16 is a multi-role fighter aircraft. Its ordnance include a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, ranging from AIM-9 Sidewinders to AGM-65 Maverick missiles. It can also carry the AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile. An M61 Vulcan 20mm Gatling Gun is embedded into the fuselage in the left wing root. The F-16 was also one of the first fighters to utilize fly-by-wire technology, as the aircraft is inherently unstable and requires minute control inputs from its Flight Control Computer to maintain stability. It features a HUD (Heads-up-Display) and HOTAS controls (Hands-on-throttle-and-stick) which improves situational awareness and limits the time spent looking down into the cockpit. The F-16 is used by more than 25 countries, including but not limited to : Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Netherlands, and the United States.
Size: 6014px × 4065px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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