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Is There Anything An F-16 Cannot Do? (Break from Politics)
Strategy Page ^ | April 21, 2013 | Strategy Page

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.


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airforce; f16; usaf; usairforce
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To: hattend

Yeah, I’ll give them an honorable mention.


21 posted on 04/21/2013 3:35:53 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: GBA

B1B’S Forecer... Check out google maps for Dyess Airforce base. I live a little West of the flight line for a while.


22 posted on 04/21/2013 3:37:41 PM PDT by Huebolt (A country that has tipped will fall. RIP USA)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

“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.


23 posted on 04/21/2013 3:38:51 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (The reason we own guns is to protect ourselves from those wanting to take our guns from us.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

The AK47 of the sky.


24 posted on 04/21/2013 3:41:45 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (zerogottago)
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To: EQAndyBuzz; sassy steel magnolia

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.)


25 posted on 04/21/2013 3:45:44 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: Still Thinking
My vote for all-time coolest-looking goes to the F-111.

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.

26 posted on 04/21/2013 3:48:03 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Don't assume Shahanshah Obama will allow another election.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia
ok, they are very cool jets...but, if they lose their ONLY engine, they’ll drop from the sky.

They glide rather gracefully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puia_yQxir8

27 posted on 04/21/2013 3:50:59 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Most Air Force people I know weren't too thrilled with the F-16. Ironically, one big reason may be related to the fact that it's the cheapest of these aircraft to operate: it's a single-engine aircraft.

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.

28 posted on 04/21/2013 4:00:51 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I am the master of my fate ... I am the captain of my soul.")
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To: sassy steel magnolia

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.


29 posted on 04/21/2013 4:02:50 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

It cannot land vertically like a Harrier. It depends upon an airfield.


30 posted on 04/21/2013 4:03:48 PM PDT by Kevmo ("A person's a person, no matter how small" ~Horton Hears a Who)
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To: Alberta's Child

Every jet is susceptible to FOD.


31 posted on 04/21/2013 4:03:48 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: hattend

I think the T-38 is the sexiest of them all.


32 posted on 04/21/2013 4:05:26 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Background checks, Mr. President? You first ...)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

One of my childhood friends holds the world record for piloting time of the F16.


33 posted on 04/21/2013 4:10:56 PM PDT by lightman (If the Patriarchate of the East held a state like the Vatican I would apply for political asylum.)
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To: NonValueAdded

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!


34 posted on 04/21/2013 4:12:10 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: driftdiver

Right. These guys seemed to think the F-16 was a higher risk than most because of the location of the single air intake.


35 posted on 04/21/2013 4:12:49 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I am the master of my fate ... I am the captain of my soul.")
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To: hattend

“The Bone”

?????


36 posted on 04/21/2013 4:13:52 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("To learn who rules over you simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"- Voltaire)
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To: BwanaNdege

Bone =B One = B-1


37 posted on 04/21/2013 4:14:56 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

It can’t come to my house and give me a ride. Love them. Love jets. Love the A-10.


38 posted on 04/21/2013 4:15:54 PM PDT by huldah1776
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Hover.


39 posted on 04/21/2013 4:18:16 PM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

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.


40 posted on 04/21/2013 4:18:47 PM PDT by lurk
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