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Airframe Details for F-16 #78-0023

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 78-0023
LM Aero T/V 61-29
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 78023
F-16A Block 5
Current USAF 78023
F-16A Block 5
Status [w/o]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
11 Oct 1979 [act] 78023 F-16A Block 5
12 Oct 1979 [act] 78023 USAF 57 FWW 'HL' F-16A Block 5
Detachment 16 at Nellis AFB.
26 Mar 1980 [msh] 78023 USAF 57 FWW 'HL' F-16A Block 5
Destroyed in a fire due to an engine failure that sent some turbine parts through the main fuel cells. The pilot, D.W. Bell, was from the Operational, Test & Evaluation squadron but using 388th TFW aircraft ejected safely after trying to restart the engine. The fact that the aircraft did not blow up was a relief to some early pilots as they were not convinced that the new designed fuel cells would perform as advertised. The fuel cells are sealed partitions in the fuselage. However, the major concern was about the fly by wire flight control system and what happened if the power was totally lost if the flight controls went "stupid". It was well understood that loss of flight controls could cause 20 Gs in less than a quarter of a second.
26 Mar 1980 [w/o] 78023 USAF 57 FWW 'HL' F-16A Block 5

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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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