General

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multi-role jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics (GD) for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multi-role aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it has proven a success on the export market, having been selected to serve in the air forces of 25 nations. The F-16 is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,400 aircraft built since production started in 1978. Though no longer being bought by the U.S. Air Force, advanced versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.

The Fighting Falcon is a dog-fighter with numerous innovations including a frame-less, bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. It was also the first fighter aircraft deliberately built to sustain 9-g turns. It has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one, providing enough power to climb and accelerate – if necessary. Although the F-16's official name is 'Fighting Falcon', it is known to its pilots as the 'Viper', after the Battlestar Galactica starfighter.

The F-16 is scheduled to remain in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2025. The planned replacement is the F-35 Lightning II, which is scheduled to enter service in 2011 and will gradually begin replacing a number of multi-role aircraft among the air forces of the program's member nations.

Characteristics

In service with 349 squadron

The F-16 entered service with 349 squadron on January 26th, 1979. At this date the first F-16 (78-0162/FB-01) landed at Beauvechain/Bevekom AB. Later the same year pilots started converting on the aircraft and subsequently 349 squadron became fully operational on the type on January 1st, 1980. The squadron being the first F-16 unit within NATO te reach this status.

During the eighties and early nineties, the task performed by 349 squadron was mainly interception. The squadron - together with its sister squadron (350 sqn) - provided aerial interception and also provided a 24-hour Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) meaning two F-16s were armed and ready in their shelters to take-off within 15 minutes after receiving an alert from mission control.

In the early nineties the squadron's aircraft were upgraded from the older block 1/5/10 models to block 15(OCU) models which gave them an opportunity to also conduct day-time attack missions. A multi-role concept was later installed for all F-16 squadrons within the Belgian Air Force. This came in full effect after the introduction of the F-16MLU from 1998 onwards. This upgraded F-16 makes it possible to conduct all kinds of missions and has no more limitations over the past models.

For more in depth information about the F-16, please visit www.f-16.net.