User Panel
Posted: 8/24/2019 10:54:14 PM EDT
I always thought the F-16 was named the "Fighting Falcon." I even remember reading that it was the only plane named after a football team. But recently it seems the name has been changed to "Viper." What gives?
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Fighting Falcon is the official name, pilots and crews refer to it as Viper, allegedly because of Battlestar Galactica.
Also B1 Lancer > Bone and B52 Stratofortress > BUFF |
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I think it depends on which version it is. Like maybe the F16-D Block 40 or something.....I dunno…...I'm not a Zoomie
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If only we had some fighter pilot types here on ARFcom to tell us the answer.
@SmilingBandit |
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most people are surprised to find out that its the A-10 thunderbolt 2, and not the A-10 warthog.
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Been the Viper as long as I can remember.
Big AF isn’t allowed to pick the names. They sure keep trying, though. |
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Where are the cool pics of Vipers/Falcons...?https://www.scalehobbyist.com/images/products/HAS/HAS00002237/HAS00002237_0_d.jpg View Quote |
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Where are the cool pics of Vipers/Falcons...?https://www.scalehobbyist.com/images/products/HAS/HAS00002237/HAS00002237_0_d.jpg View Quote |
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Quoted:
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Where are the cool pics of Vipers/Falcons...?https://www.scalehobbyist.com/images/products/HAS/HAS00002237/HAS00002237_0_d.jpg |
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Where are the cool pics of Vipers/Falcons...?https://www.scalehobbyist.com/images/products/HAS/HAS00002237/HAS00002237_0_d.jpg |
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Quoted: https://66.media.tumblr.com/71d9dabf8c86e4a8aa1f44777b76332a/tumblr_p2qnljEgxa1x2wam7o2_500.gif https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cc/10/2b/cc102b6ba35ca3ccd92c8f5d9787226f.gif https://66.media.tumblr.com/93a01efc3197bb12e9b270405bcdffbd/tumblr_ol2ktbXAnC1tbcweeo1_400.gif https://66.media.tumblr.com/a1db564c585899312ad03e287eea1527/tumblr_p2qnljEgxa1x2wam7o5_500.gif View Quote But Vipers only come with 1 engine GE or Pratt and Whitney 110 or 115 How can say this is not a Viper F-16? |
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If only we had some fighter pilot types here on ARFcom to tell us the answer. @SmilingBandit View Quote The official answer is that it's the Fighting Falcon (reference DoD 4120.15-L). But it's commonly called the Viper. The B-52 is officially the Stratofortress but it's the BUFF. The C-5 is officially the Galaxy but it's the FRED. I could go on. |
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All the shirt graphics I have to draw for the AF bases that request them all want them to say "F-16 Fighting Falcon".
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All the shirt graphics I have to draw for the AF bases that request them all want them to say "F-16 Fighting Falcon". View Quote |
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I always thought the F-16 was named the "Fighting Falcon." I even remember reading that it was the only plane named after a football team. But recently it seems the name has been changed to "Viper." What gives? View Quote |
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CH-53E Super Stalion = Shitter CH-46 Sea Knight = Pfrog etc. etc....... What's kinda funny is that the KC-135 is officially the Stratotanker but nobody calls it that. In fact it doesn't really have a nickname that anyone uses. It's just the tanker. |
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Fighting Falcon is the official name, pilots and crews refer to it as Viper, allegedly because of Battlestar Galactica. Also B1 Lancer > Bone and B52 Stratofortress > BUFF View Quote Viper: the unofficial nickname The F-16 is often referred to as the "Viper", a nickname especially popular with people involved with the F-16. Before "Fighting Falcon" was selected as official name, pilots at Hill AFB, the first F-16 base, came up with a number of proposals, including "Viper". Lt. Col. Pat "Gums" McAdoo, USAF Ret., one of the first F-16 pilots at Hill AFB, recalls the origin of the name "F-16 Viper": At end of runway, the F-16 did resemble a cobra or something as it approached you. However, I think Northrop had already taken that name for the YF-17. We all voted, and Viper came in really high. Seems there was a series on TV that had 'colonial Vipers' flying off of Battlestar Galactica (a term later used for the Eagle). In any case, the Generals didn't want a plane 'named after some snake'! Falcon was a good name, and it fit in with the motif that the Eagle had created. Sort of a little brother, but still a 'Bird of Prey'. In fact, GD had a great promo out in late 70's called "Bird of Prey", and it used the Falcon as the real world model. Even when F-16 Fighting Falcon became the official name, Viper stuck around and became the unofficial nickname for the F-16. The name "Viper" is even officially used for the Joe Bill Dreyden "Semper Viper" award, which is awarded for excellent airmanship by F-16 pilots. |
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I wish I flew the Viper |
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Did you know the official name for the A-10 is the Thunderbolt II?
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Fighting Falcon is the official name, pilots and crews refer to it as Viper, allegedly because of Battlestar Galactica. View Quote Pilots and crews know this. The newest variant of the F-16 is the F-16V. It incorporates some F-35 derivative technologies in it which has done a lot to extend its capabilities and keep it current. As I understand it, Lockmart can and will upgrade ANY F-16 airframe to V standards, for a price. Even an early A model can be rolled into the retrofit line and come out the other end as a full fledged completely modern V model. The Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF) is flying a few F-16Vs that were A models prior to retrofit. But they were probably MLU A models. (Mid-Life Updated) |
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Quoted: I'll allow it. But Vipers only come with 1 engine GE or Pratt and Whitney 110 or 115 How can say this is not a Viper F-16? https://i.redd.it/gjwzdn9ukot21.jpg View Quote The Japanese loved the F-16 but said to Lockmart, "We want to make some changes to make it better, and we'll build it ourselves." Those changes started at the nose and ended at the tail. What they ended up with is a totally new aircraft that bears a substantial resemblance to the F-16 that was their starting point. Given how the Japanese are, I am sure that the F-2 is excellent and very well adapted to the needs of JASDF. As I understand it, its major design consideration was the maritime anti-shipping role. Japan being an island nation, if they're attacked, incoming ships that will need to be dealt with will arrive in a matter of time...or sunk trying. So you might say it's built to fill a role last filled by the mighty F-14 Tomcat. Mitsubishi actually does (did) the manufacturing of the F-2, which proves that at least ONE Mitsubishi-made vehicle isn't a total piece of shit. |
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I believe at the time, "Falcon" was the common name. F-16 Falcon. No one said Fighting Falcon.
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When the airplane first went into service, or it could have just been the prototype for the fly-off between it and the YF-17 (which later became the F-18), I seem to recall that it was called the "Freedom Fighter" since it was around 1976 and the country was nuts about "200 Years of Freedom". The first one I saw photographs of was painted in a red / white / blue motif and was quite unique for its day with its single engine, tall "Greenhouse" canopy, the wing strakes, and that enormous intake.
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One of my neighbors is a retired Air Force pilot. He says its Falcon. He also says Eagle drivers are fags
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