F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-purpose fighter jet originally developed by General Development in the 1970s. Since then, over 4,300 aircraft have been manufactured for 14 countries around the world.¹ Although new F-16s are no longer being manufactured for use by the U.S. Air Force, they continue to be produced for export. The United States plans to have replaced all its F-16s with F-35s by 2025.²

Fast Facts

1. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
2. Involved in more missions in the Gulf War than any other aircraft³
3. The F-16A had its maiden voyage in December of 1976³
4. The first fully operational F-16A was completed in 1979³
5. Cockpit equipped with a bubble canopy for greater pilot visibility
6. The F-16B has a two-person cockpit

Specifications¹

1. Length: 49.3 feet
2. Height: 16.7 feet
3. Wingspan: 32.8 feet
4. Weight: 20,300 pounds
5. Maximum takeoff weight: 48,000 pounds
6. Speed: 1,500 mph

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