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Airframe Details for F-16 #83-1123

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 83-1123
LM Aero T/V 5C-6
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 83123
F-16C Block 25
Current USAF 83123
F-16C Block 25
Status [act]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
07 Sep 1984 [act] 83123 F-16C Block 25
Nov 1985 [act] 83123 USAF 6516 TS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
Oct 1986 [act] 83123 USAF 3247 TS 'AD' F-16C Block 25
Jan 1990 [act] 83123 USAF 3247 TS 'ET' F-16C Block 25
31 Oct 1990 [msh] 83123 USAF 3247 TS 'ET' F-16C Block 25
Suffered a structural failure during a flight test (flutter tests) from Eglin AFB, Florida. The test was to assess the structural integrity of the F-16 while carrying a load of 6 AMRAAM's. The aircraft was flying inverted at 2,000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico with an airspeed of Mach 1.2. The pilot noticed a serious problem with the aircraft and rolled it back to level flight, but experienced a very hard time to keep it levelled. The left flaperon was sticking up like a sharp fin in the airflow and rudder was also missing from the aircraft. The pilot, Captain Joseph A. Lanni, gained control of the aircraft and checked its controllability. Captain Lanni brought the aircraft back to Eglin AFB with no further problems, mainly because he was already lined up with the runway and the fact that the chase-plane (F-4) pilot kept telling him to stick with it. The pilot had to keep 25 lbs of constant pressure to the stick to keep the aircraft straight. The aircraft was repaired afterwards. Maintainers believe the rudder imploded from delamination since they never found a piece of it anywhere. The jet tried to kill the same pilot 3 more times after this event - 2 sudden decompressions at altitude and when the right flaperon did the same thing, only this time tore off and smashed into the stabilator. The pilot put it down at Tyndall AB every time.
Oct 1992 [act] 83123 USAF 39 FTS 'ET' F-16C Block 25
Apr 1995 [act] 83123 USAF 39 FTS 'ET' F-16C Block 25
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 39 FTS
Mar 1999 [act] 83123 USAF 39 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 25
Apr 2002 [act] 83123 USAF 40 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 25

Crew Chief Comments

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If you crewed this jet and want to leave a comment, you can create your own profile in our Crew Chief Profiles section.

MSgt. Kenneth Goldsby

 Crew Chief Profile
3246th Test Wing , 1985 - 1989

SrA. Jesuel Rosa Castillo

 Crew Chief Profile
40th Flight Test Squadron , 2009 -
ADCC

SSgt. Matthew Baird

 Crew Chief Profile
, -


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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