First the background to the story....
Lockheed F-16BM "Su-30 Killer" 84606, Pakistan Air Force, 2022
General Background
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the "Viper"; and will remain in USAF service until 2025.
The Aircraft
From June 16th until 30th 2022 the 2022 annual Anatolian Eagle (AE-22) exercise was held at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, Turkey. The exercise was attended by 6 international air forces using about 50 aircraft. This is similar to the NATO and Tiger Meet of the Americas was carried out using opposing forces in high threat situations. Attending this exercise from Pakistan was F-16BM 84606 from the 11th Squadron (Arrows) that was delivered in December 1983 and on
February 27, 2019 shot down an Indian Air Force Su-30.
Specifications :
| Role: | Multi-role fighter |
| Manufacturer : | General Dynamics Corp. / Lockheed Martin Corp |
| Initial Unit cost : | F-16C/D, $20 million plus |
| First Deployed : | January 1979 |
| (F-16A)Crew : | 1 x F-16C / 1 or 2 x F-16D |
| Power Plant : | F-16C/D |
| 1 x Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or |
| 1 x General Electric F110-GE-100/129 |
| Thrust : | F-16C/D / 27,000 lb (12,150 kg) |
| Length: | 49 ft, 5 in (14.8 m) |
| Wingspan | 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m) |
| Height: | 16 ft (4.8 m) |
| Speed: | 1,500 mph (Mach 2 @ altitude) |
| Ceiling: | Above 50,000 (15 km) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight: | 37,500 lb (16,875 kg) |
| Range: | Greater than 2,425 mi (2,100 nm / 3,900 km) |
| Combat Radius: | F-16C 851.6 mi (1,370 km / 740 nm) w/ 2 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 U.S. gal external tanks |
| 391.3 mi (630 km / 340 nm) w/ 4 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 340 U.S. gal external tanks |
| 230.2 mi (370 km / 200 nm) + 2 hr. 10 min. patrol w/ 2 x AIM-7 + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 lb U.S. gal external tanks |
| Armament: | 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds |
| 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds |
| External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles |
| Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions |
| Electronic countermeasure pods. |
Hobby Master, the official website including our latest scale models, toys, aviation.
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Now for over a year, I have been trying to acquire this model of the PAF Viper but astonishingly all the official suppliers were constantly sold out. Despite some companies advertising for a few of the models to be available for sale but when inquiring, the reply always was that currently the product is out of stock. All in all, I had all but given up, however a dear young member of the family knew how keen i was for this model and remained persistent in the hunt. In the end, unknown to me, he didn't only manage to acquire the "Sukhoi Slayer" but also the "Bison Blaster ".
The former had arrived in time and was given to me as an ideal Eid gift yesterday. The details on the PAF Viper 84-606 are incredible.
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