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Airframe Details for F-16 #87-0353

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 87-0353
LM Aero T/V 1C-4
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 87353
F-16C Block 40A
Current USAF 87353
F-16C Block 40A
Status [act]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
31 Mar 1989 [act] 87353 F-16C Block 40A
Apr 1991 [act] 87353 USAF 40 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
At some point this aircraft was marked 40 FLTS on the tail.
Oct 1992 [act] 87353 USAF 39 FTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
Apr 1994 [act] 87353 USAF 39 FTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 39 TES
Apr 1995 [act] 87353 USAF 39 FTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 46 TW
Sep 1998 [act] 87353 USAF 422 TES 'OT' F-16C Block 40A
Apr 2002 [act] 87353 USAF 40 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
On loan to Lockheed for second conformal fuel tank test bed work. Tail was painted with special markings and still had ET tail code, but in the upper rear of tail.
Sep 2011 [act] 87353 USAF 40 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
Still being used as a test bird.
Dec 2019 [act] 87353 USAF 40 FLTS 'ET' F-16C Block 40A
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 96 TW

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.

TSgt. Brad Irwin

 Crew Chief Profile
39th Flight Test Squadron , 1999 - 2004
My first and favorite jet. I crewed her through the full first portion of the conformal fuel tank tests. From when she had just the dummy shapes on, through the Peace Zena III tests with the full comformals, 600 gal wing tanks and lazer guided bombs. Talk about some hot brakes, she blew thermal plugs regularly, they liked to fly her with externals full with lockout keys installed and safty wired in. For eglin guys this is SOP but with 3k extra fuel with conformals it was a problem. Now she has a switch in the cockpit to lock out externals.

SrA. Patrick McCormick

 Crew Chief Profile
40th Flight Test Squadron , 2011 - 2013
I gotta say I love this jet. Just before i came to Eglin, this jet just got back from depot and was an absolute mess. Shortly though it was back on the line looking good. Felt kinda lucky to get seeing as though it was the only CFT jet we have. It does flutter as well but i have yet to see it. Spent hours upon hours cleaning and meshing parts to get the jet looking good. She flew great from the time I got to Eglin til November when a "certain pilot" code 3'd her for fuel imbalance on approach. Now shes down for a wing change and will return to FMC shortly, after she gets a new paint job that is.


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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