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.
So my ride on an F16D cost about $33,000. I shoulda saved my barf bag.
Wow, so you can operate a BUFF for a mere three times what it would take for an F-16?? Surprising.
I was just thinking of when I was a kid they had fighters which were just as fast as what we have now.
In 1963, 50 years ago, the F-104 would do 1500 mph.
Can an F-16 escape from Egypt?
My vote for all-time coolest-looking goes to the F-111.
I read that when they designed the F16, they deliberately kept the generals and politicians out of the designing in order to make a superior aircraft.
You mean the Aardvark?
I personally would vote for the Spitfire, tho the Messerschmidt BF-109 was close.
The Su-27 - 35 series are pretty spiffy. Ignore them at your peril.
Just don't try to turn.
Make me a samich
That’s why they have female pilots.
ok, they are very cool jets...but, if they lose their ONLY engine, they’ll drop from the sky. A BUFF on the other hand, can lose and engine and still kick A$$! Same goes for any other multi engine military plane.
yeah, I know, jets are way faster and cooler, but BUFFs get it done and their shadow and their noise casts a scary power.
Proud of my former SAC days (yeah, I’m as old as dirt!) :)
I learned how to close a canopy on a SC ANG F-16 at MCAS Beaufort. Started to rain a little.
The Bone is sexiest by far
Quite a few years ago, I was at an Armed Forces Day celebration at Eglin. Besides two P-51s they had an F-80 fly by and do some mild acrobatics.
I remember thinking to myself that just looking at it flying I could not tell that it was inferior to the F-15s and F-16s which were also flying.
1500mph cant outrun a missile in any decade though.
yeah got that right...
B-1Bs for the world!
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