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Airframe Details for F-16 #89-0028

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 89-0028
LM Aero T/V 4R-46
Plant TAI
Local C/N TK-XXX
Delivered TuAF 89-0028
F-16C Block 40A
Current TuAF 89-0028
F-16C Block 40A
Status [act]

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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
19 Sep 1990 [act] 89-0028 F-16C Block 40A
FMS Program: Peace Onyx I
Mar 1991 [act] 89-0028 TuAF 141 Filo F-16C Block 40A
Dec 2018 [act] 89-0028 TuAF 182 Filo F-16C Block 40A
Unknown [act] 89-0028 TuAF 132 Filo F-16C Block 40A

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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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Errors and Omissions
Lieven
Jun 11, 2025 - 05:05 PM
Tango-1 Never Dies

In 1997, the Turkish Air Force was invited to the Red Flag exercise for the first time. At that time, 6 F-16 Block40 and 2 KC-135R tanker aircraft from the 141st Wolf Squadron were transferred to the US Nellis Air Base.

During the exercise, Turkish aircrafts were given the task of acting as Red Forces. Turkish F-16s represented Russian Su-27s and MiG-29s. Their call codes were ''Tango''. After the first familiarization sorties, the aircrafts took off for the Red-Blue fight. Turkish F16 with tail number 89-0028 locked on 5 F-15s and 4 F-16s, taking them out of the scenario. In the following days, none of the Blue Forces Pilots managed to lock on him. So this is where the ''Tango-1 Never Dies'' was born.

After that, same USAF and Israeli pilots tried to take their revenge in ''Anatolian Eagle Drill'' happened in 3rd Jet Base in 2001, Konya. But again, none of them managed to get a lock on him, and thus his ''Tango-1 Never Dies'' callsign was earned.

The same plane is still in service, in 132nd Dagger Squadron, still has his callsign written on it.

Also see: https://www.f-16.net/callsigns-T.html





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