The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). More than 4,600 aircraft have been built since its introduction in 1976. The aircraft is no longer purchased by the US Air Force, but is still built for sale to other countries.
Notable features of the Fighting Falcon include a bubble capsule for good visibility, a side-mounted control stick to make it easier to steer while manoeuvring, an ejection seat tilted 30 degrees from the vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire control system that helps make it an agile aircraft.
The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 places for mounting weapons and other mission equipment. The official name of the F-16 is "Fighting Falcon", but "Viper" is commonly used by its pilots and crews, due to a perceived resemblance to a viper snake and to the Colonial Viper starfighter on Battlestar Galactica, which was broadcast at the time the F-16 entered service.
The F-16 has also been purchased by the air forces of 25 other countries.
Brand | Lockheed |
Type | F16 |
Pilots | 1 |
Maximum Take Off Weight | 12020 kg |
Empty weight | 8573 kg |
Payload | 3447 kg |
Maximum Speed | 1176 knots (2178 km/h) |
Maximum distance | 4217 km |
Fuel Capacity | 4000 liter |
Maximum altitude | 58000 feet (17678 m) |
Span | 10.0 m |
Height | 15.1 m |
ICAO code | F16 |
These specifications are intended to give you an idea of the Lockheed F16. They cannot be used for flight preparation. Often there are many different types of aircraft released with varying specifications and prices. Check the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) if you want to know the exact values of the aircraft you are going to fly. Your flight instructor will be happy to help you with this.