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Airframe Details for F-16 #78-0002

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 78-0002
LM Aero T/V 61-8
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 78002
F-16A Block 1
Current USAF 78002
F-16A Block 1
Status [i/a]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
24 Sep 1978 [act] 78002 F-16A Block 1
25 Sep 1978 [act] 80002 USAF 6516 TS 'ED' F-16A Block 1
13 Nov 1980 [act] 78002 USAF 57 FWW 'HL' F-16A Block 1
First F-16 to arrive at Hill AFB, Utah. Wore a large colour crest on the right landing gear door. Detachment 16 at Nellis AFB.
Jul 1983 [act] 78002 USAF 310 TFTS 'LF' F-16A Block 1
Nov 1989 [msh] 78002 USAF 310 TFTS 'LF' F-16A Block 1

Engine turbine failed during a take-off roll sending pieces of the turbine blades through the fuel cell. Pilot aborted take off after seeing the fire light and shut down the engine. After the pilot opened the canopy and jumped out found the entire tail of the F-16 on fire. The aircraft was sent to depot but was never repaired.
29 Nov 1991 [w/o] 78002 'LF' F-16A Block 1
Finally declared a total loss.
Jan 1994 [i/a] 78002 F-16A Block 1
Misawa AFB, Japan (BDR)

Crew Chief Comments

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Sgt. William Eckberg

 Crew Chief Profile
388th Fighter Wing , 1978 - 1979
This jet broke down a lot!!!!!

MSgt. Steve Swear

 Crew Chief Profile
310th Fighter Squadron "Tophats" , 1983 - 1987

Sgt. Frank Barnaby

 Crew Chief Profile
310th Fighter Squadron "Tophats" , 1983 - 1986
78-002, or "Balls 2", was the second production F-16 built. I was assigned to Balls-2 when I was at Luke from 1982-1986, and the squadron was the 310th TFTS. I wonder where 002 is now. He's probably in some scrap yard due to not being repaired after the fire, assuming that story is true. I say "he" because it has two balls (ie, "00" in "002"). My trainer, JD Wadsworth, told me that it's a boy because it has balls. Those were some good times!


Abbreviations and symbols:
[act] Active [i/a] Instructional Airframe [sto] Stored (e.g. at AMARG)
[cld] Cancelled Order [msh] Involved in Mishap [w/o] Write-off
[con] Converted [o/o] On Order
[des] Destroyed (drone) [pre] Preserved (museum, gateguard) T/V LM Aero Type/Version (Construction) number
[emb] Embargoed [scr] Scrapped Photo Available
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