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Airframe Details for F-16 #88-0421

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 88-0421
LM Aero T/V 1C-23
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 88421
F-16C Block 40B
Current USAF 88421
F-16C Block 40B
Status [act]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
27 Aug 1989 [act] 88421 F-16C Block 40B
03 Oct 1989 [act] 88421 USAF 421 TFS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 TFS/AMU
Jun 1990 [act] 88421 USAF 421 TFS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 TFS
Deployment: Desert Storm
01 Oct 1991 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 FS
25 May 2003 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 FS
Deployment: Iraqi Freedom
15 Jun 2003 [msh] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 FS
Collided on the ground with F-16C (88-0516) caused by a hydraulic failure. The incident happened at just before 8:00 am local time on the Zulu-1 taxiway of Al Udeid AB, Qatar. Initial unconfirmed reports indicate that a taxiing F-16 lost all hydraulic power and ran into a parked F-16 at about 10 knots. One maintenance troop on top of the parked F-16 was thrown or jumped off the F-16 and was slightly injured, abrasions to his back. Both F-16s were fully loaded with live ordnance, there were also 3 pieces of AGE equipment involved. After the impact, some sort of electrical short is suspected from one of the AIM-9 missiles, that possible ignited some of the fuel and started a fire in the motor of the AIM-9 and on a below mounted avionic pod. This fire was reportedly quit large and it was extinguished by another maintenance troop, possible saving 7 fully loaded F-16s! As the Fire Department arrived on scene there was light smoke but no fire. The rocket motor was still smoldering so about 200 gallons of water was used to cool them down. After it was determined that there we no lives at stake the area was evacuated. EOD made entry about 45 minutes later. They determined that a piece of AGE equipment that was lodged between the two aircraft would need to be stabilized with a crane during the download of the munitions. This effort totaled 6 hours and 33 minutes with the outside temperatures being between 110°F and 133°F during the emergency. EOD removed 4 damaged munitions and one that they were unsure of.
10 May 2007 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B News Article
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421 FS
Returned to the unit after two years of repairs.
Apr 2008 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Jul 2009 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421st FS
Deployment: Enduring Freedom
Jan 2010 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421st FS
Oct 2015 [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421st FS
Deployment: Enduring Freedom
Unknown [act] 88421 USAF 421 FS 'HL' F-16C Block 40B
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 421st FS
21 Sep 2017 [act] 88421 USAF 8 FS 'HO' F-16C Block 40B
Still wearing markings for the boss bird 421st FS on arrival.
Mar 2023 [act] 88421 USAF 422 TES 'OT' F-16C Block 40B

Crew Chief Comments

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MSgt. William Zimmermann

 Crew Chief Profile
421st Fighter Squadron "Black Widows" , 1996 - 2000
Squadron Flagship. Acft S/N same as unit number. DCC was Ed Michaud, one of the best guys I've ever known. When Ed went to FTD I was able to take over as DCC a SrA...I was pretty ate up! I enjoyed it though. Dan Roth and I were kept busy!

SSgt. Roque Notter

 Crew Chief Profile
421st Fighter Squadron "Black Widows" , 2008 - 2008


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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