The story
The F-16 Fighting Falcon — pilots call it the Viper — is one of the most successful fighters of the modern era. General Dynamics designed it light and lethal; over 4,600 have been built, flown by the US and 25 other nations. It's fast, agile, and relatively affordable.
The F-16 was the first fighter built around a relaxed-stability fly-by-wire system: it is deliberately unstable, and its computers keep it flying straight.
Quick answers
How do you identify a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon?
Single engine fed by an intake under the nose, a cropped-delta wing blended into the fuselage, and a frameless bubble canopy. The most common fighter in service today.
What does a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon sound like?
Single afterburning turbofan — a screaming roar in full afterburner that you feel in your chest.
How fast is the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon?
Top speed is Mach 2.0.
How far can the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fly?
Range is about 2,280 nmi.
How big is the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon?
It is 49 ft 5 in long and 32 ft 8 in across the wings.
When did the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon first fly?
Its first flight was in 1974.
How many General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons have been built?
4,600+ built.
What do crews call the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon?
The Viper.
How rare is a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon catch is worth 250 points.
