Length: 8.25 inches
Width: 5.25 inches
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then
merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January
1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of
sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and
25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as
the “Viper” and will remain in USAF service until 2025.
Two prototype F-16s were designed in 1971 and won the competition against the Northrop YF-
17. On June 7,1975 after assurances that the USAF was strongly committed to the F-16 Belgium,
Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway agreed to acquire the F-16. This became known as “The
Deal of the Century”. The first F-16 FSD aircraft s/n 75-0745 was first rolled out on October 20,
1976 with the first flight taking place on December 8, 1976 and accepted by the USAF on
December 13, 1976.