Posted on 04/21/2013 3:06:00 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
The U.S. Air Force prefers to use its F-16 fighters for everything. While the F-16 is a capable and versatile aircraft, the main reason for using it so much is because it is so cheap to operate. It costs the air force $23,000 per hour to operate an F-16C. Other fighters are much more expensive. An F-22 costs $68,000 an hour, while an F-15C costs $42,000 and an F-15E $36,000.
The only aircraft that beats the F-16C is the A-10C, which costs $18,000 an hour. But the A-10 is not a fighter and is optimized for ground support. The F-16 can also do that, but not as well. The other ground support aircraft, the AC-130U costs $46,000 an hour. That’s why these are being replaced by C-130 transports ($18,000 an hour) with special cargo containers consisting of sensors and weapons similar to those on the AC-130.
The F-16, like the A-10 can also drop smart bombs. Both aircraft are much cheaper at this than the bombers. The B-52H costs $70,000 an hour, the B-1B $58,000 and the B-2 $169,000. The problem with the bombers is that with smart bombs you don’t need a lot of bombs. So what the F-16 can carry (a dozen or more, depending on weight) is usually adequate in places like Afghanistan. For an attack on, say, North Korea, the bombers would come into their own, at least for the initial assault when there are a lot of targets to hit.
With the right sensors, missiles and electronic weapons plus well-trained pilots the F-16 can beat just about any other fighter out there. For stealth fighters, that would have to include sensors that can handle stealth. But stealth fighters often have the best sensors and electronics as well. Thus against most foes a well tricked out F-16 can do it all.
Yeah, I’ll give them an honorable mention.
B1B’S Forecer... Check out google maps for Dyess Airforce base. I live a little West of the flight line for a while.
“Proud of my former SAC days (yeah, I’m as old as dirt!) :)”
I’m also old SAC. I loved the way the BUFF’s took off. When I was leaving the AF, the B1’s were starting to arrive.
The AK47 of the sky.
I’m not old as dirt yet, but I was in SAC for a while
Beale - SR-71, TR-1, KC-135
March - BUFFs and KC10
RAF Alconbury (USAFE) but still TR-1
Back to Beale - U2R and KC135 with prep work for drones going on when I retired. (although it wasn’t SAC anymore.)
That's what I thought when I first saw one landing in Korat. That is until I saw the SR-71, (which wasn't there,) taking off from Kadena.
They glide rather gracefully.
The one recurring complaint I've heard is that the position of the air intake below the cockpit makes it susceptible to pick up dirt and debris from runways when it is taking off.
I'd be curious to hear from Freepers who know more about this than I do -- to see if they have similar thoughts about the F-16.
I saw two squadrons of F16s on the runway, take off in sets of four and then do a mock air base attack on my base.
Sure beat the buff flying over at 35,000 feet.
It cannot land vertically like a Harrier. It depends upon an airfield.
Every jet is susceptible to FOD.
I think the T-38 is the sexiest of them all.
One of my childhood friends holds the world record for piloting time of the F16.
I was awarded an incentive ride in a T-38 at Holloman.
I have 1.5 hours in it as Pilot in Command.
The pilot took us off, got us to 10K headed to the flying area, raised his hands and said “you have it”. I got to do anything I wanted as long as I kept is in a block of airspace. He took back control when we got below 10K on the way back in. Never made to supersonic as we were in a speed restricted airspace. :-(
What a fun little ride!
Right. These guys seemed to think the F-16 was a higher risk than most because of the location of the single air intake.
“The Bone”
?????
Bone =B One = B-1
It can’t come to my house and give me a ride. Love them. Love jets. Love the A-10.
Hover.
There are pretty girls, and then there’s the woman you want to bear your children.
If you’re in a firefight and you need 500 rounds of 30mm depleted uranium pumped into a spot, there’s only one platform for the job.
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