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Airframe Details for F-16 #83-1120

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F-16 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 83-1120
F-16ES rolling out. Note the internal FLIR antennas on the nose [USAF photo]
 LM Aero T/V 5C-3
Plant General Dynamics
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 83120
F-16C Block 25
Current USAF 83120
F-16C Block 25
Status [sto]
At some point this F-16 had its air intake modified to a big inlet standard (MSID intake) and with GE engine. Happened prior to 1993.

Retired

The third F-16C ever built, 83-1120, flew from Edwards AFB to AMARG on May 7, 2025, ending an illustrious 41-year career.

Joining its former Edwards F-16 force compatriots, 83-1118 and 83-1119, the aircraft will become part of the extensive collection at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Generation Group (AMARG), Davis-Monthan AFB, near Tucson, Arizona.

83-1120 was the third aircraft from the F-16A production line to be set aside for upgrade to Block 25 standard, becoming an F-16C. Block 25 introduced the AN/APG-68 radar, replacing the older AN/APG-66 carried by F-16As and F-16Bs. Various models of the AN/APG-68 remain in service on F-16s worldwide, although it has now been superseded by the active electronically scanned array (AESA) AN/APG-83 radar.

Delivered straight to the testing units at Edwards AFB, where it would end up spending its whole service life, 83-1120 was used to test a range of small and large modifications throughout its career. The first major external modification came in 1994, when the aircraft was used by Lockheed Martin as a demonstrator for their F-16ES (Enhanced Strategic) model.

Two years after use as the F-16ES demonstrator, 83-1120, now reverted to F-16C specification, was chosen to be fitted with a modified air intake as a proof of concept for the Lockheed Martin X-35, which would evolve into the F-35 Lightning II. The diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) removes the requirement for a splitter plate, which on a normal F-16 is the part that separates the air intake from the body of the fuselage separating boundary layer airflow from the engine. Forward swept intake cowlings, as well as raised geometry inside the inlet, compress airflow at supersonic speeds and slows it to the subsonic speeds required by turbofan engines.

Source: https://theaviationist.com/2025/05/19/edwards-3rd-ever-f-16-retired/


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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
19 Jul 1984 [act] 83120 F-16C Block 25
Dec 1984 [act] 83120 USAF 6516 TS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
01 Oct 1991 [act] 83120 USAF 416 FLTS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
USAF F-16C block 25 #83-1120 from the 416th FLTS is parked on the flightline with opened canopy at Hill AFB on October 29th, 1993. [<a href="http://www.airfighters.com" target="new">Airfighters.com</a> photo by Henk Schuitemaker]
Modified with a large (MCID) inlet and a GE-110 engine.
05 Nov 1994 [act] 83120 USAF 416 FTS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
The proposded 'Enhanced Strategic' F-16ES (#83-1120), fitted with (dummy) conformal fuel tanks and a (dummy) FLIR turret on the nose. [<a href="http://www.lmtas.com" target="new">LMTAS</a> photo]
Long-range Viper
In 1994 Lockheed proposed the F-16 ES (Enhanced Strategic), a reach-extended version of the F-16 for the Israeli Strike Fighter competition. The aircraft was the first F-16 to be fitted with Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) and was fitted with internal FLIR to reduce the drag associated with LANTIRN pods. When combined with a 320-gal. centerline tank and two 600-gal. underwing tanks, the F-16ES had an unrefueled mission radius of 1,025 mi. (with a typical strike load of two 2,000-lb. bombs and four air-to-air missiles), representing a 40% increase in range. After losing the Israeli contract to the F-15I, LMTAS re-used some ES technologies (like the CFTs) in new F-16 models like the Block 60.
Unknown [act] 83120 USAF 416 FTS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
An Edwards F-16C block 25 (#83-1120) carrying a Litening II pod and CBU-97 dispensers under the wing pylons. [Photo by Erik Striglin]

USAF F-16C block 25 #83-1120 from the 416th FLTS is seen here serving as the F-16ES aerodynamic prototype. The external mods were aerodynamic shapes only, not functioning equipment. It was photographed on the NAS Fort Worth runway in December of 1994. [Photo by Henry Ham]
Demodified as the F-16ES test bed.
11 Dec 1996 [act] 83120 USAF 416 FTS F-16C Block 25
USAF F-16C #83-1120 modified with diverterless supersonic inlet, or DSI, developed for the Joint Strike Fighter (now the F-35 Lightning II) program. At high aircraft speeds through supersonic, the bump in the inlet works with the forward-swept inlet cowl to redirect unwanted boundary layer airflow away from the inlet, essentially doing the job of heavier, more complex, and more costly diverters used by current fighters. The flight test program consisted of twelve flights flown in nine days in December 1996. [<a href="http://www.lmtas.com" target="new">LMTAS</a> photo]

Nose detail of USAF F-16C block 25 #83-1120 who is reconfigured with a JSF inlet. [<a href="http://www.lmtas.com" target="new">LMTAS</a> photo]
F-35 Inlet Installed
Modified inlet as an X-35 test bed with General Electric F110-GE-129 engine. This inlet resembles the airflows that are created when flying with the X-35. The flight test program consisted of twelve flights flown in nine days in December 1996.
Jan 1997 [act] 83120 USAF 416 FLTS 'ED' F-16C Block 25
07 May 2025 [sto] 83120 USAF AMARC F-16C Block 25

Crew Chief Comments

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USAF-AFMC-416-FLTS

TSgt. Bryan Dietz

 Crew Chief Profile
416th Flight Test Squadron , 2001 - 2002
USAF-AFMC-416-FLTS

Mr. John Gerbas III

 Crew Chief Profile
416th Flight Test Squadron , 2001 - 2003
1120 was a testbed for various mods... mostly engine. No Gun installed "Projects" Engine fitted (long pointed feathers, Direct BYPA, More Fuel...more go) Spin chute jet Conformal mounts still installed
USAF-AFMC-416-FLTS

TSgt. Eric Malicki

 Crew Chief Profile
416th Flight Test Squadron , 2005 - 2007


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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