WT Forums

Saw something on the line that peeked my intrest and was wondering if anyone had any good info. How many F-16's does our US NAVY own/use/test? Saw one with the big aresting hook and all and was just wondering.

Big arresting hook? Its the same size as all the other F-16s use. If memory suits me correctly they have approx. 24 F-16's for aggressor training(all at NAS Fallon). The original F-16N models have for the most part been put in storage. They are now flying some of the embargoed F-16's that were supposed to have gone to Pakistan.

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

So lets get this straight. Your saying that the Navy owns and operates approx. 24 F-16s and that number was bolsted by more F-16s that were bought to keep them from being sold to Pakistan. The one I saw had diferent landing gear and the arrestinghook looking diffent. BUt what really made it stand out was the sharpest looking paint job on an F-16 I've seen. I guess it doesn't matter which group of 16's it falls into.

Thanks for lettin me know were it might have come from.

The navy F-16's did NOT have different landing gear or arresting hooks. They werent capable of doing carrier ops. The original F-16's for the navy were "N" models. Basically they were block 30 C models with the A model radar and the small mouth inlet and no gun. They had the GE engines installed. I have seen these jets and they were very nice....real hotrods! They experinced some major cracking issues on the wings and the 349 bulkhead (mlg bulkhead) so most if not all were sent to the boneyard at D-M pending disposition. The word I have is that the Navy didnt want to have to pay to fix the cracks. They would have had to come to Hill AFB to get fixed, the navy and Hill have had issues in the past when Hill took the F-18 workload from them for a while (my theroy of course). The ones they have now are the embargoed F-16 A models that were mentioned earlier.

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

They're block 15 birds aren't they Mark?

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction"

Ronald Reagan

Yes the embargoed F-16's are block 15's some of the nicest A models that were ever built. I can see why the Paki's are pissed....<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

If you say so M&M. I guess my eyes were playin tricks on me seeing this odd lookin 16 parked next to USAF 16's. I must not be able to see the difference when I'm standing 10 feet away. Thx for educating me M&M.

Not my airframe anyway. I'll go back to my A-10's now and quit wonderin bout lawndarts.

Send me a pic JMF422nd......I would be curious to see what the hell you are talking about. Perhaps it was just the paint scheme that was different and not the gear and hook. Try this link...they describe the N model quite nicely http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modl ... =60&page=1


"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

Edited by - m&m on Jul 04 2004 6:11 PM

I thought Block 5s and 10s were the first off the line.

Block 1's were first off the line.

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

Spoke with the SOM and was told a resounding NO for pics of TDY birds without their consent. But, email me gov email and we can chat. I'm certainly no expert of the F-16 and will never claim to be. The only sys on the thing I know is LANTIRN, but that doesn't mean I don't pay attention. Hence the reason for the thread.

Nope they were the first to buy the block 1's

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

M&M is what you would call an expert on the lawn dart fer sure.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction"

Ronald Reagan

Damn! You dont want much do you? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Have to do some scouting around for that info.

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

Inapropriate question Marine.


O P S E C

If M&M posted that info we'd all have to kill him.


"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction"

Ronald Reagan

Its just as well.....I dont have access to the "true" numbers anyway........lol

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

The block 1 F-16's became block 15 F-16's when they were upgraded with new avionics, etc. So block 15 F-16's were the first built.

Marge: There's someone here who I think can help you. Homer: Who, Batman? Marge: No he's a scientist. Homer: Batman's a scientist? Marge: It's not Batman!

The block 1's and 5's were updated to block 10 standards (falcon rally).....then they were updated "system wise" to block 15 standards (falcon rally II). The airframes were not updated however. Take a look at the horz stabs and you will see a big difference....49 sq ft for a 1/5/or10 and 63 sq ft for a 15 and thats just one difference. The block 1's were 78 models, my block 15 was an 82. The block 1/5/10's were never considered block 15's after the mods.

"face it....perhaps your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others!"

Become an F-16 pilot or wait till they retire them, or befriend someone who knows then keep yer mouth shut after they tell you things they shouldn't.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction"

Ronald Reagan

I have been away from Oceana for a long time (1989), but did the Navy return all their F-21 IAS KFir's to Israel or do they still fly them with VF-43 ?

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !