U.S. Air Force receives last F-16

F-16.net ^ | March 25, 2005 | Susan Ferns

[klpt]

The US Air Force has received the last of 2,231 F-16 fighters manufactured for the service, the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center announced on Thursday.

The general who was the F-16 System Program Office director at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, when the contract for the aircraft was awarded delivered the Air Force's last F-16 Fighting Falcon on March 18.

While Lockheed Martin Aero, Fort Worth, will continue to produce F-16s for international coalition partners, this aircraft is the last of 2,231 F-16s produced for the Air Force, officials said. The first delivery was in 1978.

Brig. Gen. Jeff Riemer, now the director of operations at the Air Force Materiel Command headquarters here, flew the jet from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

"It seemed fitting for General Riemer to make this historic flight, and we were pleased that he was able to accept the invitation," said Col. Scott Jansson, Aeronautical Systems Center Fighter Attack Systems Wing's F-16 Systems Group commander.

For his part, General Riemer said that having flown the very first F-16B while stationed at Edwards AFB, Calif., he is delighted to have had the opportunity to fly the last F-16 produced for the Air Force.

"(This F-16) is not your father's F-16," said Dan Mahrer, F-16 production program manager. "Originally designed as a lightweight, daytime interceptor, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been transformed over the last 20 years into a multi-role, all weather, air-to-air and air-to-ground attack weapon system.

"Today's F-16 has significant combat capabilities. This (version of the) jet has a new computer, multifunctional color displays, an advanced (Identification Friend or Foe) interrogator, upgraded data link system and a new helmet with an automatic target-cueing system. It has been upgraded with the latest software and cutting-edge precision weapons," Mr. Mahrer said.

"Although this is the last new F-16 expected to be produced for the (Air Force), the F-16 Systems Group continues to technically transform the existing fleet of more than 1,300 jets, enabling evolutionary weapons delivery capabilities through 2025 and making possible a smooth transition to the F-35, the world's premier multi-role fighter of the future," Col. Jansson said.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Even today, after decades, that combo would be state-of-the-art.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

mothballed = retired.

[Tom Bombadil]

Can you imagine the SR-71 armed? ...

They had a version with a different forward fuselage configuration and a radar on the nose. It was called the YF-12 and was an experimental interceptor.

[Tommyjo]

Those images of the Jags are not photo-shopped. These are Royal Omani Air Force Jaguars flown by RAF pilots. They did the same with their Hunters over the airfields.

[Tommyjo]

Some footage of the Omani Jaguars in the hands of RAF pilots. Watch the shadow!

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/low.wmv

[Gunrunner2]

Thanks.

As a former A-10 fighter pilot, I like low flying as much as the next ground hog. . .however, that guy was acting the fool.

I still think those Jag low fly pictures were photo-shopped, as you can see from the video flying that low kicks up dust. . .no dust.

[MediaMole]

It will take a special act of congress, but there is already a privately owned F-4 Phantom, so an F-16 could happen. The Collings foundation has an F-4D.

IIRC, there is an F-18 available. It is just a warehouse full of parts, but with enough work...

Otherwise, you'll have to wait until a foreign operator gets rid of an F-16 and try to get import authorization from the BATF. Good luck.

[Tommyjo]

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/pprune/Jag02a.WMV

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/pprune/Thummers01.WMV

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/pprune/Thummers02.WMV

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/pprune/Thummers05.WMV

[Tommyjo]

The first video of my last post shows no kick up of dust after the Jag passes over concrete. The Omani Hunters also got a thrashing from the RAF pilots.

[Jagarmourer]

The Jaguars used to do that all the time and we only lost one because of it. Not fooling about but the best way to sneak up on the enemy in a very flat desert!

The photos are not re-touched - I was there in Thumrait at the time they were taken and there are a whole series of photos like these with Jaguars and Hunters. There is also one or two with a C-130 veiwed from a 66 foot ATC tower, flying across in front of the flight line with a Jaguar and Hunter below each wingtip. Also a 727 flown by the late King Hussain of Jordan doing a low beat-up of that same flightline.

[Gunrunner2]

Best way to sneak up on an enemy is by flying high, way high; they can't see you and you deliver your weapon way before any low-level guy is even close.

Low level flying like that is silly and nothing more than air show stuff. Drop a bomb while that low and you blow-up yourself. Can't jink when they shoot at you because you will hit the ground. Any gomer with a gun (or a rock) can hit you). Not tactically sound.

[Jagarmourer]

We used to "Toss bomb" - Lo-Hi-Lo and used a lot of 400kg Matra Retard bombs! Much work was also done with 30mm cannons and CRV-7 rockets. Most targets were not out in the open but deep in caves and wadis. Hunters used 1000lb bombs, SURA rockets and 30mm - very effectively.

[Gunrunner2]

So?

Are you talking dive-toss or loft?

At the altitudes of those pics no matter what drag you put on the bomb, a) it will frag your butt and b) won't have time to arm (unless you drop armed).

Silly tactic.

[5050 no line]

Maybe before your time Gunrunner2 (Early /70’s) Yes, they operated Hi Lo Hi. They did not have that far to go, but bit of an ask to manage it all the way to target and deliver at low level in a Hunter. Only nav device = Map + Mk1 eyeball IP, pull up etc . The Hunters used chinagraph windscreen marks as sights to deliver their 3” into the caves (Yes,from a ‘shallow’ dive) around Sarfait and over to the Yemen border. Dunno’ what sophisticated device they used to put the iron bomb ordinance down the chimmney of the PDRY police station at Hauf tho’ :o)

Yes, I know its too low to deliver the weapons you mention, but they weren’t delivering ordinance at the time ??? I was there for the shot of the Jag down the ramp. It was carefully staged, not a ad hoc act of bravado. Note the exhaust heat trail please, if you are in doubt. Can’t say about the first two shots. Recall that they did dent the roof of the OC Special Forces (SSF) Ra nge Rover near the Goat Farm with a low pass :o) I was a helo driver in Salalah.