Differences between Block 15OCU and Block 15 aircraft

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 21 Aug 2003, 13:34

Some claim the Belgian F-16 used for the Nato Tigermeet 2001 was a OCU, I didn't know Belgium had OCU's. I knew they had Block 15 wich are now converted to MLU? How do you see the difference anyway between 15 and 15OCU?
This is the plane they talk about: http://www.31tigersqn.be/images/ntm/2001/SGKoksijde/(1).jpg

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 21 Aug 2003, 14:55

Here:

Stefaan · by **Stefaan** » 21 Aug 2003, 16:06

s_ellebaut,

If you read our <a href="http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=67&page=1">"Operational Users - Belgium"</A> article, you will see that Belgium ordered 40 F-16A Block15 OCUs (serials FA-97 to FA-136) and 4 F-16B Block 15 OCUs (serials FB-21 to FB-24), all delivered between 1988 and 1991.

The aircraft in the photograph above is FA-116 (<a href="http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=PhotoGallery&file=index&include=search.php&searchstring=FA-116">check our PhotoGallery</A>), which makes it a Block 15 OCU.

Technical details about the Block 15 and the Block 15 OCU can be found in our <a href="http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=4&page=1">F-16A/B - Block 1/5/10/15/15OCU/20 </A> article.

Hope this helps,

stefaan

PS: yes, we do have a lot of information on this site :-)

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 21 Aug 2003, 16:14

Ok, thanks Stefaan.

And are all block 15's and 15OCU's converted to MLU or doe they change only the block 15's?

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 21 Aug 2003, 16:50

Stefaan, how do you know the serial # of the photographed plane?

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 21 Aug 2003, 16:59

I know them too. All serial # of the belgian F*16's used for the NTM's are known, I can read them from detailed pictures of the fine tail art.

Bjorn · by **Bjorn** » 21 Aug 2003, 20:56

DeepSpace,

On this aircraft it's a little bit difficult, but like Stefaan Ellebaut said you can read it with looking at a detailled picture of this particular aircraft's tail. In this case the serial number shows on the tail just above the yellow marking, right to the belgian flag.

Stefaan Ellebaut,

In general the aircraft with the most servicelife remaining will be upgraded with MLU. In Belgian case it will be a mix of the two. The last batch (44) of F-16's was build to the OCU standard. Because they are the most recent, they will all be upgraded. Since Belgium upgrades 90 aircraft, the OCU's aren't sufficient, so also normal block 15's from the first batch will be upgraded.

Greets,

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 22 Aug 2003, 15:15

Thanks Bjorn