U.S. Air Force receives last F-16

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by NewsBot » 24 Mar 2005, 23:49

This is a discussion topic for the F-16.net news article: "<a href="news_article1332.html" target="_top">U.S. Air Force receives last F-16</A>". You can read the <a href="index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=2580.html" target="_top">full forum discussion</A> in the F-16.net forum.


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by LinkF16SimDude » 24 Mar 2005, 23:49

Ladies and Gents... a moment of silence, please.

Production of foreign Vipers will continue for some time but this the last of the USAF line. No more will US drivers catch a whiff of that "New Viper" smell. No more will US paint shops apply that virgin finflash/tailcode. :cry:

Webmasters take note for the database: The last new USAF Viper is tail <a href="f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-4592.html">#01-7053</a>.


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by Sniper69 » 25 Mar 2005, 01:38

$&^%@&^@#*&%^@#&!!! :bang:

It had to come sooner or later :shrug: ... but I still think it s**ks :cry:


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by MATMACWC » 25 Mar 2005, 01:41

I'll tell ya how it does in the air soon...


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by trailmix » 25 Mar 2005, 02:22

What a great example of fixing what isnt broken. Here we have a cost-effective A2A, A2G jet with a fantastic service record. But now we need the F-22 or F-35, more expensive, more "stealthy" more technologicaly advanced etc. etc. What it means is more $$ in contracts for lockheed, more $$ in training for US pilots, and more wasted dollars as the viper is put to pasture. IMHO the money should just be spent on upgrading the viper. I mean, stealth is becoming obsolete very quickly with advances in radar technology anyway. The saved money could also be put towards keeping bases open and people working instead of wasted on R&D. Maybe i just love the viper, or maybe it makes too much sense for the gov't to see.

~mix


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by Sniper69 » 25 Mar 2005, 02:27

Yeah MATMACWC, your a one of the lucky b@$t@rd$ that get s to fly it! Enjoy man, and yea let us know how her acceleration and handling are lol.


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by parrothead » 25 Mar 2005, 03:18

A very sad day... :salute:
No plane on Sunday, maybe be one come Monday...
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by Hammer308 » 25 Mar 2005, 07:18

I realize this may be a stupid question, but I'm curious. I know that the tail-number is based on the fiscal yr. the plane is ordered, but why did it take so long to be delivered? Is it due to a backlog in orders? Also, how long does it actually take to build? Thanx. Btw, I also think this a very bad decision by our govt., & a sad day for aviation in general. There will never be another plane like the Viper.


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by TenguNoHi » 25 Mar 2005, 07:37

Means by the time I get there im gonna ride in someone elses dirty cockpit =/ what a drag! Hey? Does every new F-16 off the line come with a complimentary air freshner for the mirror courtesy of LM? I heard new air craft really do have a new car smell to them thats quite nice...

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by agilefalcon16 » 25 Mar 2005, 13:40

This day is a day that I wish NEVER came. :cry: I agree with Hammer308, the USAF will never again produce a plane like the Viper. :(

Definitly a very sad day indeed....


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by Roscoe » 25 Mar 2005, 21:35

Hammer308 wrote:I realize this may be a stupid question, but I'm curious. I know that the tail-number is based on the fiscal yr. the plane is ordered, but why did it take so long to be delivered? Is it due to a backlog in orders? Also, how long does it actually take to build? Thanx.


36 months was the standard time from contract award to delivery for Vipers contracted via the USAF, including FMS birds. A bird contracted in FY01 should have been delivered in FY04. I suspect either a configuration change that delayed delivery or like you said a backlog. The production line ain't what it used to be and surges are difficult to accomodate. USAF jets are offically "attrition reserve" (i.e. replacements) so the urgency was never there.
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USAF Test Pilot School 92A

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by Roscoe » 25 Mar 2005, 21:53

trailmix wrote:What a great example of fixing what isnt broken. Here we have a cost-effective A2A, A2G jet with a fantastic service record. But now we need the F-22 or F-35, more expensive, more "stealthy" more technologicaly advanced etc. etc. What it means is more $$ in contracts for lockheed, more $$ in training for US pilots, and more wasted dollars as the viper is put to pasture. IMHO the money should just be spent on upgrading the viper. I mean, stealth is becoming obsolete very quickly with advances in radar technology anyway. The saved money could also be put towards keeping bases open and people working instead of wasted on R&D. Maybe i just love the viper, or maybe it makes too much sense for the gov't to see.

~mix


Hmmm, where to start...

1) "Stealth" is obsolete? (I hate that term, it is so colloquial)

Where ever did you get that impression? I could explain why you are wrong but government agents would bust down my door, so just let me say it's as important as ever. The focus now is to maintain the performance but reduce the maintenance and cost.

Have you ever seen comparisons of detection ranges bewtween F-16's and modern fighters? Keep in mind that the Viper with external stores is NOT stealthy and it's radar range is not spectacular dues to the small size of the dish. "Low observability" (there, I feel better :)) is still important.

2) The F-16 and the F-15 are 30+ year-old designs. The new jets we will be facing in the next couple of decades will be either their equal or beat them in a fair fight. We don't believe in fair fights. We want EVERY one to kick butt and come home. F-22 and F-35 are necessary. I love the Viper as much as the next guy. I bought them, I flew them, and I tested them. Doesn't mean I can't let them go.

3) Why does everyone think closing bases is a bad thing? Our military is an order of magnitude smaller than it was pre-Desert Storm (I hate that too but we simply can't afford a bigger military and the Cold war is infact over). Yet the number of bases we have open hasn't been reduced hardly any. Closing bases does not mean reducing capability. It means increasing capability by freeing up infrastructure $$ for important things.


(edited for bad proofing the first time)
Last edited by Roscoe on 28 Jul 2005, 17:36, edited 1 time in total.
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USAF Test Pilot School 92A

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by Roscoe » 25 Mar 2005, 22:04

As the Viper Production Program Manager, I closed the 96 deal (6 jets), negotiated and closed the 97 and 98 deals (6 and 3 jets respectively), and negotiated the price for the 1 jet we ended up buying in 99.

I also flew every USAF block from 15-50, testing them at Eglin and Edwards.

<sniff, sniff> :cry:
Alas poor Viper, I knew her well...
Roscoe
F-16 Program Manager
USAF Test Pilot School 92A

"It's time to get medieval, I'm goin' in for guns" - Dos Gringos


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by swanee » 26 Mar 2005, 00:55

I agree with mix here somewhat... I don't think we need a whole new entire fleet of gold plated toys when the stainless steel ones are working very well. But i do see a need for the f-22 and f-35... just maybe 2 or 3 wings of each, rather than every wing converting to either the 22 or the 35...

but mix and i are in bad moods about the latest BRAC rumor announcement... so dont mess with us, cause we are crazy... :bang:
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by KarimAbdoun » 27 Mar 2005, 12:52

A day to remember folks, now we will soon witness the downsize
The fighter is not what counts, it's the one who's flying it that matters!


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