The Aviationist » General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

The U.S. F-16 fleet is undergoing the largest modification work in history with the Post Block Integration Team. Now that the F-16 is 50, it is fitting to talk about its future and how it will st...

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/24/usaf-to-fly-f-16s-into-the-2040s/

Among all videogames featuring the Viper, Falcon BMS and DCS World are the most accurate representations of the F-16, a civilian can get his/her hands on. The F-16 is one of the world’s most po...

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/22/f-16-flight-simulation/

Before flying the Viper operationally, pilots have to get through the nine-month B-Course which provides them with the Initial Qualification Training on the F-16. During its 50 years, the F-16 ha...

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/21/viper-pilot-training/

On Jan. 20, 1974, the YF-16 No.1 flew for the first time, although it wasn’t planned. Here is what happened over the next 50 years. Today, Jan. 20, 2024, marks half a century since the first fl...

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/20/the-f-16-turns-50/

Only two prototypes were built. One of these is the example 72-1569 that has just undergone several hundred hours of restoration work at the Western Museum of Flight in California. Now it sports ...

https://theaviationist.com/2019/11/27/the-northrop-yf-17-cobra-prototype-has-been-given-a-brand-new-paint-scheme-decals-and-top-gun-markings/

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron has been given a black color scheme. Inspired by the Chinese stealth jet or something else? Update: Accordin...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/08/02/take-a-look-at-this-u-s-air-force-f-16c-aggressor-in-brand-new-black-color-scheme-mimicking-chinas-j-31-stealth-jet/

Helicopter Attack in Venezuela Mimics Failed 2016 Turkish Coup. In a bizarre incident a man described as “rogue policeman Oscar Perez” allegedly led the commandeering of a Bolkow BO-105 polic...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/06/28/hijacked-helicopter-launches-bizarre-attack-on-venezuelan-government-installations-in-alleged-coup-attempt/

Israelis Shock The World With Audacious First Ever F-16 Strike. 1735 HRs Local, Sunday, June 7, 1981. Al-Tuwaythah Nuclear Research Facility, outside Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi Colonel Fakhri Hussein J...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/06/07/operation-opera-the-israeli-air-strike-on-an-iraqi-nuclear-reactor/

The HAF has bid farewell to its last “recce” Phantoms. On May 4, Larissa airbase, Greece, hosted the spotter day for the final flight of the Hellenic Air Force RF-4E, the last “recce” Pha...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/05/08/the-hellenic-air-force-has-retired-its-last-rf-4e-phantom-jets/

Check Out These Awesome Air-to-Air Shots Taken During Ramstein Alloy 4 Exercise. The fourth edition of the NATO air drills series Ramstein Alloy took place in Baltic airspace, mainly over Lithuan...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/05/04/ramstein-alloy-4-served-to-exercise-baltic-air-policing-alert-aircraft-procedures/

Climb with us to the top of Coyote Summit to see some real Red Flag 17-2 action! Red Flag is a major event in the military aviation community, known by both pilots, spotters and other fans. In a ...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/04/03/red-flags-air-combat-maneuvering-as-seen-from-the-nevada-desert/

Polish Parliamentary Committee on National Defense analyzed the current state of the Polish Air Force’s F-16 fighter fleet, its future, as well as plans related to the M-346 AJTs and JASSM / JA...

https://theaviationist.com/2017/03/28/polish-parliamentary-national-defense-committee-discusses-the-future-of-the-f-16s-and-prospects-of-acquiring-5th-gen-jets/

Polish Air Force Modernization Initiatives do not foresee 5th Generation Fighters until at least 2022. The plan to acquire the 5th-generation jets that would prospectively replace the Su-22 Fitte...

https://theaviationist.com/2016/11/28/polish-air-force-further-postpones-procurement-of-5th-generation-fighters-to-replace-mig-29-and-su-22-jets/

Don’t worry, the Polish are not bombing Daesh. Few months ago the Polish Air Force deployed some F-16 Block 52+ fighters with the 10th Fighter Squadron from the 32 Air Base in Łask to Kuwait, ...

https://theaviationist.com/2016/10/17/polish-air-force-rotates-its-f-16-jets-in-kuwait-but-its-not-switching-to-an-offensive-role-against-isis/

Poland may resuscitate an obsolete domestic trainer in an attempt to boost the economic situation of the country. On Oct. 3, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of d...

https://theaviationist.com/2016/10/06/is-poland-really-considering-restarting-production-of-its-indigenous-obsolete-i-22-iryda-trainer-aircraft/