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Quoted: There is a "thing" about have two engines - especially for the US Navy, but the F16 is about as bullet proof as you can get and its a hell of a lot cheaper to build. I bet you could build 4 F16's for what it costs to build one F22 or F35 View Quote I like the greater capabilities and flexibility of newer designs, but quantity has a quality all of its own. |
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F-35 test pilot says F-16 is the funnest to fly.
![]() The Funnest Aircraft to Fly as a Fighter Pilot |
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Let's see an F16 stay in the air after another pilot crashes into it and breaks off a wing, then land safely and be repaired to fly again.
Because an F15 did that. |
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She can't tell her cooter from her butthole, much less be able to pass judgment on the relative merit of 4th generation fighter aircraft.
Her primary argument for the Viper is that it made a sonic boom that a lot of people heard. |
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I was at the Hill AFB Museum north of SLC UT yesterday and the placard in front of the F-16A on display (there were a couple, actually) said it was adopted in 1972. I didn’t realize type classification went that far back.
It IS a beautiful and capable design, even if it isn’t up-to-the-minute in the latest technology. |
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Quoted: I was at the Hill AFB Museum north of SLC UT yesterday and the placard in front of the F-16A on display (there were a couple, actually) said it was adopted in 1972. I didn’t realize type classification went that far back. It IS a beautiful and capable design, even if it isn’t up-to-the-minute in the latest technology. View Quote Date is off. Pretty sure the YF-16 wasn’t flying yet in 1972, and I believe USAF service entry was 1979. |
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Quoted: Oh bullshit. F22 and it’s not close. View Quote The F22 hasn't had the opportunity for combat like the f16. By the numbers the F22 is superior. I have been watching the grim reapers channel on YouTube and they do some interesting scenarios with all types of aircraft and it's really interesting. Check them out. Being a naval aviator you probably have some good critiques of what they do. |
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Quoted: I got to watch this one in person a few weeks go. Really incredible to see up close. ![]() View Quote When I was at C school at dwf the f16 factory would do their test flights on new F16s. Every car alarm would go off on the whole base. It was like our own private air show. |
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In terms of cost in relation to maintainability, performance and mission capability, the 16 can’t be beat. The 15 and 22 are better platforms but cost is higher.
In regards to the 35, I would personally classify the plane as a 4.5 Gen aircraft. Horrible dogfighting capabilities and is not capable of super cruise. Hell, the French Rafale can do super cruise and it’s over 30 years old. Recent report stated that the B and C versions can not maintain sustained super sonic flight because structural damage would ensue. The 35 is the biggest defense acquisition failure in recent times. |
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Cool story bro...
Now leave your golf clubs at home and try landing that on a pitching deck of a carrier, at night, after a long flight, on bingo gas... FLY NAVY |
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It's the Corolla of the skies but with worse fuel economy
![]() Need them to do CAS in Afghanistan? Oh wait, they need to hit the tanker (again) ![]() |
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Quoted: Depending on how the math is done, I’m pretty sure the late block F-16’s are just about the same cost, or damn near, what an F-35A is. View Quote Well….sure …the dealers/manufacturers always get you ….nickel and dime you on all the add-ons…. Corinthian leather seat(s). (For the D model) In dash 6 disc CD changer… Blu tooth capability… Back up cameras… And now adaptive cruise control…. ![]() |
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Quoted: https://i.imgur.com/qVbFGCQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TGrZmAQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/s8qgl0G.jpg https://i.imgur.com/2F35U6Y.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AhGoJvz.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Vxq0AQm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/pmgW4ZV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ab3eO9W.jpg View Quote Fuck, most of the planes with visible year-of-order numbers are close to my age. We really have almost-40-year-old front line jets? |
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I grew up near Ft. Knox. I’m not sure why they flew supersonic jets out of an armory school, but they did. It always rattled the China cabinet
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Quoted: Arguing the best is fruitless without context. Of course the F-16 is a technologically advanced compared to the P-51. But the P-51 is technologically advanced compared to a Sopwith Camel. By the way, my favorite jet powered fighter is this one. Even though this particular one tried very hard to kill me. https://i.imgur.com/w28MAXx.jpg View Quote Thank you for saving this thread with common sense and a photo of the sexiest jet ever made Instead of the push button instant gratification while doing nothing generation of kids that have invaded this site. |
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It sure seems to be a good "enemy removal system" that fits our needs well.
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Quoted: https://i.imgur.com/qVbFGCQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TGrZmAQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/s8qgl0G.jpg https://i.imgur.com/2F35U6Y.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AhGoJvz.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Vxq0AQm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/pmgW4ZV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ab3eO9W.jpg View Quote "If looks could kill..." But they can't. The saying about the Viper has long been, "First in the swimsuit competition, last in the talent show." |
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Quoted: Date is off. Pretty sure the YF-16 wasn't flying yet in 1972, and I believe USAF service entry was 1979. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: I was at the Hill AFB Museum north of SLC UT yesterday and the placard in front of the F-16A on display (there were a couple, actually) said it was adopted in 1972. I didn't realize type classification went that far back. It IS a beautiful and capable design, even if it isn't up-to-the-minute in the latest technology. Date is off. Pretty sure the YF-16 wasn't flying yet in 1972, and I believe USAF service entry was 1979. First flight 20 January 1974; 49 years ago (unplanned) 2 February 1974; 49 years ago (official) Introduction17 August 1978; 44 years ago |
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Quoted: The F22 hasn't had the opportunity for combat like the f16. By the numbers the F22 is superior. I have been watching the grim reapers channel on YouTube and they do some interesting scenarios with all types of aircraft and it's really interesting. Check them out. Being a naval aviator you probably have some good critiques of what they do. View Quote I’ve fought all of them and while the F16 is really, really good, the Raptor is just in another galaxy. Almost alien like. |
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Quoted: https://i.imgur.com/qVbFGCQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TGrZmAQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/s8qgl0G.jpg https://i.imgur.com/2F35U6Y.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AhGoJvz.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Vxq0AQm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/pmgW4ZV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ab3eO9W.jpg View Quote I need to think about this but right now I think the top picture has the best paint scheme I’ve ever seen. It’s perfect. |
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Quoted: I grew up near Ft. Knox. I’m not sure why they flew supersonic jets out of an armory school, but they did. It always rattled the China cabinet View Quote They didn’t. Probably the KY ANG RF-4’s doing low level or other local ANG units using a range for bombing. I don’t think Knox has a long enough runway to do touch and goes… On topic: How many A2A kills does the F-16 have? I’m pretty sure the Israeli F-16’s got some Syrian kills. We probably got some in Iraq. |
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My problem with part of your argument in favor of the f16 is that it was used so prolifically in Iraq and Astan, but that's because of the numbers it was bought in and its relative low cost to use.
Literally anything could've done the job, but it's what we had. Blowing up mud huts in uncontested airspace doesn't make you the best. Furthermore, it's hard to say this about the F16 when it coexisted for almost its entirety alongside the F15, while the F16 was literally built to be a cheaper less capable version of the F15, while at the same time, the F15 has the numbers it has. If you're going to claim super high production numbers and a strongly linked low acquisition and operational cost, then ok, but cheap doesn't make something the "greatest". |
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Quoted: They didn’t. Probably the KY ANG RF-4’s doing low level or other local ANG units using a range for bombing. I don’t think Knox has a long enough runway to do touch and goes… On topic: How many A2A kills does the F-16 have? I’m pretty sure the Israeli F-16’s got some Syrian kills. We probably got some in Iraq. View Quote Bosnia too. Or Serbia. Or whatever Yugoslavia is. |
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Quoted: My problem with part of your argument in favor of the f16 is that it was used so prolifically in Iraq and Astan, but that's because of the numbers it was bought in and its relative low cost to use. Literally anything could've done the job, but it's what we had. Blowing up mud huts in uncontested airspace doesn't make you the best. Furthermore, it's hard to say this about the F16 when it coexisted for almost its entirety alongside the F15, while the F16 was literally built to be a cheaper less capable version of the F15, while at the same time, the F15 has the numbers it has. If you're going to claim super high production numbers and a strongly linked low acquisition and operational cost, then ok, but cheap doesn't make something the "greatest". View Quote If that is the OP argument then it’s hard to argue against the Fishbed. |
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