F-16, F-22 and F-35 News
Thunderbird Crash on 3 Dec 2025
Thunderbird F-16C crashes near Trona during training; Pilot ejects safely
A Block 52 F-16C from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team crashed late Wednesday morning in a remote desert area near Trona, California, after the pilot safely ejected and sustained only minor injuries.
FAA F-16AM #M-1020 destined for Grupo Aéreo 6 is coming in for landing with brakes opened at Zaragoza AB on November 28th, 2025. [<a href="https://www.jetphotos.com" target="new">Jetphotos.com</a> photo by Rodrigo Train]
First ex-Danish F-16s on route to Argentina
Today the first six refurbished former Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force, RDAF) F-16s departed from Skrydstrup AB, beginning their long journey to join the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentinian Air Force, FAA).
IqAF F-16C block 52 is parked on a sunny tarmac guarded by an Iraqi military. [IqAF photo]
U.S. awards new contract to sustain Iraqi F-16 fleet through 2026
The United States has awarded Vectrus Systems Corp. a $252 million contract to continue providing maintenance and support services for the Iraqi Air Force’s F-16 fleet.
More F-16 News | F-22 News | F-35 News
F-16 Fleet Status
F-16 fleet - Dec 8, 2025
Fleet overview:
scrapped: 204
write-off: 624
preserved: 166
stored: 571
instructional: 122
on order: 98
active: 2897
Changes '23/'24:
Fleet adds: 105
Fleet drop: 49
See detailed fleet reports
Sponsor - New
Today in F-16 history
8 Dec 1976
Maiden flight of the first FSD F-16A (#75-0745).
Quote of the Day
Air racing may not be better than your wedding night, but it's better than the second night...
-- Mickey Rupp, air racer and former Indianapolis 500 driver
F-16 Hall of Fame
Sparrow Tester
The second YF-16 (#01568), equiped with 2x AIM-9, 2x AIM-7 and camera pods test-firing a Sparrow missile. [USAF photo]
USAF #01568
YF-16
The aircraft used to perform some tests with the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. Only with the introduction of the ADF version of the F-16, a BVR missile capacity was added to the airframe.
See more F-16 Aircraft profiles
F-16 Forum
The comprehensive F-16 HG5 colorscheme t...alfagolf
Thunderbird crashes in California - 3 De...Gums
F-16 Block 52 Stabilityjohnwill
Danish F-16s for Argentinafriberi
Emergency arresting cable test F-16 FAP ...ricnunes
F-16 Side Stick Controller (SSC) Deflect...Roscoe
Thunderbird F-16 Block 52's age?Boman
APG-68(v)1viperzerof-2
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F-22 and F-35 Forum
The Turkey problem - F-35ricnunes
F-35 program updatesCorsair1963
Barnes ANG: F-15EX or F-35s?fbw
New details about F-22 upgradehornetfinn
F-35 with serial number 5085Bjorn
Canada and the CF-35ricnunes
AIM-260 JATM shape revealedpron
UK MOD in a muddle over F-35Cquicksilver
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Military Aviation Forum
Saab Gripen newshornetfinn
Computer "Attack" modes in cur...Gums
Su-57 is a misunderstood aircraftmilosh
Russia-Ukraine War 2022hornetfinn
Modern Chinese Flanker variants (J-16, J...disconnectedr...
Drone technology rendering F-16 roles ob...hornetfinn
Comparison by SpurtsCorsair1963
Boeing F-15EX Eagle IIf119doctor
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From C-130.net
C-130 for the NAVY?sprstdlyscott...
Fat Albert going to England for upgradesedpop
New book on the C-130mandarin_toscan
NY ANG to get LC-130J's?mekong68
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Callsign of the day

Callsign "Magnum"

During primary flight school in the Navy, my "roomie" was going out on a hot date. He asked if I could loan him some "supplies" just in case. Told him, "what's mine is yours". He exited the bathroom and asked, "Very funny, what am I supposed to do with this. Wear it in lieu of a raincoat?" We both laughed until we hurt. I think he told to story to someone and it got around the base. Hence my callsign was assigned. It followed me my entire career.
More callsigns
Sierra Hotel
Latest Viper Drivers to reach 1K - 6K flying hours:
6,000 Hours 6,000 Hrs
2008-05-02
Lt.Col. Mike "Brillo" Brill
| 466 FS | 421 FS  
5,000 Hours 5,000 Hrs
2021-09-21
Lt.Col. David "Grits" Gritsavage
| 134 FS | 134 FS | 125 FS  
4,000 Hours 4,000 Hrs
2024-12-03
Lt.Col. Donald "Rhett" Butler (Ret.)
79 FS | 422 TES | 1 sqn  
3,000 Hours 3,000 Hrs
2025-02-10
2,000 Hours 2,000 Hrs
2023-11-15
1,000 Hours 1,000 Hrs
2025-02-06
More F-16 Pilots profiles
Crew Chief Profiles
M.M. IV Răduțoiu Alexandru-Daniel (added: 27 Nov 2025)
Esc 53 | Esc 53 | Esc 53
Joshua Clarkson (added: 26 Nov 2025)
122 FW | 122 FW | 122 FW
SSgt. Francisco Rosales (added: 17 Oct 2025)
80 FS
Sgt. Corentin Romedenne (added: 3 Aug 2025)
350 sqn | 350 sqn | 350 sqn | 301 esq
TSgt. Curtis Hassig (added: 22 Jun 2025)
388 FW | F-111 | 388 FW
More F-16 Crew Chief profiles
F-16 Unit
HAF F-16D #144 - SMET 111PM. [Sideview by <a href="http://www.squadronprints.com/" target="new">Berry Vissers</a>]
HAF-SMET-111-PM
SMET "Alexandros" (HAF)