When it comes to aerial combat, few dog-fighter jets can match the F-16 in maneuverability and offensive capability. Combining cutting edge technology with classic design, the Fighting Falcon is expertly captured in a sleek desktop scale model ready for display.
The falcon ascending
American fighter jets of the 1970s were clearly inadequate for the changing martial landscape. Experience in Vietnam clearly illustrated how ungainly, expensive, and ill-equipped they were for combat. There was a need for a better multirole jet fighter aircraft, one that could reclaim the skies.
Ace pilot John Boyd and the ‘Lightweight Fighter Mafia’ design group would rise to the challenge. They would create the most agile combat aircraft ever built, sacrificing weight for speed. The manufacturer was General Dynamics and in August 1978, a production standard F-16 took flight for the first time.
Design devised for dueling
The F-16 Fighting Falcon incorporated several innovations in its compact frame. A supersonic multirole fighter, it was the first plane to use ‘fly-by-wire’ technology, or computer assisted flight. In order to make the plane more maneuverable, the F-16 was designed to be aerodynamically unstable. This means the plane was always on the verge of going out of control.
It sounds completely crazy, but this inherent instability allowed the Fighting Falcon to make faster turns and quicker speed shifts. The ‘fly-by-wire’ computer needed to constantly adjust the control surfaces to keep the plane on an even keel. The result was superior maneuverability. These innovations were so successful that they are used in many modern aircraft.
Fully loaded for the fight
These weren’t the only modifications designed to increase the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s combat capability. Its cropped delta wings were designed to blend imperceptibly with the fuselage, resulting in a smaller plane with higher thrust-to-weight ratios. This meant it could use its single turbofan engine to perform maneuvers of up to 9Gs, at a time when the acknowledged limit was only 7Gs. A clear dome cockpit allowed 360 degree views, so that no one could sneak up on the pilot.
The F-16’s weapons systems included a 20 mm cannon, and up to six heat-seeking missiles. It used a revolutionary integrated radar system, with the data projected onto a Heads-Up-Display. The pilot would always be looking exactly at the enemy’s approach path. It’s no wonder that it became the most popular dog-fighter in its class.
A plane beyond price
To date, over 25 countries maintain the F-16 in their fleets. With all its features, it remains the most cost-effective multirole fighter available, priced at nearly a quarter of the cost of its predecessors. The F-16 has the added feature of being completely upgradeable, with modular units for a multitude of different combat and tactical situations, including precision air strikes and reconnaissance missions.
The admiration many pilots feel for the F-16 Fighting Falcon is well deserved. It is truly amazing how its compact functional design and lethal versatility is faithfully rendered in a scale model, perfect for any home or office. This durable mahogany scale model will undoubtedly incite awe and respect from your friends every time they see it.
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