Years In Service: 1978-Present
Initial Flight: February 2, 1974
The F-16 Fighting Falcon, also known as the Viper, won the “lightweight” Fighter Aircraft competition of the mid-1970s. Part of its initial production included an agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, and Norway. The F-16 Fighting Falcon was designed as an air superiority day fighter and evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 16′ Wingspan: 32′ 8″ Length: 49′ 5″ Crew: 1 Armament: One .787 in M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon, two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles Payload: 12,000 lbs. Thrust: 17,800 lbs. No. of Engines: 1 Cruise speed: 577 mph Max Speed: 1,345 mph Ceiling: 59,055 ft.