The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a
single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General
Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air
superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole
aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved
in 1976. Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force,
improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993,
General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed
Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995
merger with Martin Marietta.
The Fighting Falcon has key features including a frameless bubble canopy for
better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while
maneuvering, a seat reclined 30 degrees to reduce the effect of g-forces on
the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire
flight control system helps to make it a nimble aircraft. The F-16 has an
internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other
mission equipment. The F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", but
"Viper" is commonly used by its pilots, due to a perceived resemblance to a
viper snake as well as the Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper
starfighter.
In addition to active duty U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve
Command, and Air National Guard units, the aircraft is also used by the USAF
aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and as an
adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16 has also
been procured to serve in the air forces of 25 other nations.>
