First F-16 Block70 emerges from LM's new factory

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 23 Nov 2022, 21:43

Nov. 22, 2022 | By John A. Tirpak

The first F-16 of the Block 70/72 configuration has rolled out of Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, S.C., facility in preparation for first flight early in 2023. The factory is geared up to build at least 128 more of the jets through the end of this decade.

The jet, destined for Bahrain, should be accepted by the U.S. government early in 2023 and will undergo flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., before it’s delivered under the Foreign Military Sales program. It completed final assembly and checkout (FACO) and painting at Greenville on Nov. 21.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/first ... -on-order/

Boman · by **Boman** » 24 Nov 2022, 06:10

Interesting new color scheme? Reminds me of the UAE :wink:

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 29 Nov 2022, 13:55

Very nice scheme on that new Viper. My understanding is these new Vs were suppose to be painted in Have Glass, but I guess its country specific?

edpop · by **edpop** » 30 Nov 2022, 04:18

For Bahrain:

edpop · by **edpop** » 08 Dec 2022, 23:07

zero-one · by **zero-one** » 14 Dec 2022, 20:18

Bonus: Gums was credited in this video

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 10 Mar 2023, 19:50

: Bahrain Block 70 unveil on 10 March 2023

: F-16D Block 70 18-0011 Mar 10 2023

F16VIPER · by **F16VIPER** » 13 Mar 2023, 10:31

Hi all. Does anyone have the livestream link to the whole celebration ceremony.
Thank you in advance.

F16VIPER · by **F16VIPER** » 17 Mar 2023, 00:14

Hi, does anyone know the FMS program code name?
Is it Hamed Falcon or similar.
Spelling may be wrong.
Regards.

LinkF16SimDude · by **LinkF16SimDude** » 19 Mar 2023, 21:45

F16VIPER wrote:Hi, does anyone know the FMS program code name?
Is it Hamed Falcon or similar.
Spelling may be wrong.
Regards.

According to this page...the first two RBAF purchases were Peace Crown I & II. So it stands to reason the Block 70s (which the page mentions) will be Peace Crown III unless it's decided otherwise.

basher54321 · by **basher54321** » 10 Jun 2023, 13:51

: F-16C Block 70 RBAF 18-0001 June 2023, Donaldson AB, 2nd Flight from production line

Fox1 · by **Fox1** » 16 Jun 2023, 20:17

basher54321 wrote:
F-16C_B70_1601_RBAF June 2023.jpg

The single seaters without the dorsal spine and CFTs attached are among the most beautiful fighter aircraft ever built.

Boman · by **Boman** » 16 Jun 2023, 23:11

Fox1 wrote:
basher54321 wrote:
F-16C_B70_1601_RBAF June 2023.jpg

The single seaters without the dorsal spine ....t.

Single seaters have never had dorsal spines. Sorry!

viperzerof-2 · by **viperzerof-2** » 16 Jun 2023, 23:17

Boman wrote:
Fox1 wrote:
basher54321 wrote:
F-16C_B70_1601_RBAF June 2023.jpg

The single seaters without the dorsal spine ....t.

Single seaters have never had dorsal spines. Sorry!

Why is that anyway? I know the AFTI had one so it was possible, but what reason did no production aircraft?

Boman · by **Boman** » 16 Jun 2023, 23:22

The AFTI was just a test subject, never evolved into operational use. Hence it is only the F-16D (Or F-16I) that have the dorsal spine.