F-16 Reference

F-16 Aircraft Database

Airframe Details for F-16 #78-0044

[Back to F-16 Aircraft Database menu | Missing Photos | Hall of Fame]



F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 78-0044
LM Aero T/V 61-40
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 78044
F-16A Block 5
Current USAF
F-16A Block 5
Status [scr]

⇦ Copy-paste this code to link this airframe from our forum

Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
17 Dec 1979 [act] 78044 F-16A Block 5
19 Dec 1979 [act] 78044 USAF 16 TFTS 'HL' F-16A Block 5
Unknown [act] 78044 USAF 34 TFS 'HL' F-16A Block 5
20 Mar 1982 [msh] 78044 USAF 34 TFS 'HL' F-16A Block 5 Interview
Landed with failed leading edge flap
In Lt. Col. Pat "Gums" McAdoo's words:

"I was the first Viper pilot to successfully land the thing with a failed leading edge flap. Was early spring/late winter 1982. Maybe 20 March, tail number 044, as that log entry shows 0.3 hours and a precision approach. Weather was not ll that keen. Have the HUD video in VHS format."

"Maintenance troops had failed to insert a 'keeper' bolt that is supposed to keep the flap drive tubes from slipping apart. It's like a cotter key on a bolt. The flap drive motor has a spline gear on it and the drive tube has gear teeth that match up. So the drive tube gradually slipped out from the motor spline gear. When I rotated, the drive tube slid all the way out and the leading edge flap went up until the wing upper surface stopped it. Maybe 50-60 degrees. Another troop had his fail a few months later and the flap went to 90 degrees because he was going a lot faster when the drive tube failed. So I was at 160 knots and holding full left stick. Post-flight data revealed that I had about one pound of control authority for banking left. So I was holding 15-16 pounds of left stick the whole time. "

"I stayed at 170-180 knots, as I could still maintain control and wasn't gonna play Chuck Yeager more than I had to. Nevertheless, I was the first troop to fly the thing in that configuration, so everything was new territory. Bunted over to get opposite flap 2 degrees up and locked the flaps( LEF's go up when bunting over, or when weight is on wheels). I now had both LEF's up, and it seemed to help with the roll authority. Additionally, that other flap wasn't gonna be moving all over the place, and this kept things a little more predictable. "

"Came around on the ILS and landed in one helluva crab. The drag was so great that I almost landed short when I pulled off the power. As I was coming in a lot hotter than normal, I thought I would land long. heh heh, sucker dropped like a rock and I was able to make a mid-field turn off."

Exact date of this mishap is not known, but did happen in 1982.
Apr 1983 [act] 78044 USAF 311 TFTS 'LF' F-16A Block 5
May 1991 [act] 78044 USAF 121 TFS 'DC' F-16A Block 5
Apr 1992 [act] 78044 USAF AATC F-16A Block 5
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: AATC
Unknown [act] 78044 USAF AATC F-16A Block 5
Aug 1996 [act] 78044 USAF AATC 'AZ' F-16A Block 5
Special characteristics:
  • Unit Markings: 162 FW
28 Apr 2000 [sto] AAFG0440 USAF AMARC 'AZ' F-16A Block 5
06 Apr 2021 [scr] F-16A Block 5
At Lamb Depollution.

Crew Chief Comments

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



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
Any aircraft or serials missing from this list? Did you see incorrect, incomplete, or outdated data?
Add your corrections at the bottom of this page or send them to us!
[Back to the F-16 Aircraft Database]


Errors and Omissions




Please use this form to add any list any error or omissions you find in the above text.

Note: your comments will be displayed immediately on this page. If you wish to send a private comment to the webmasters, please use the Contact Us link.