The Funnest Aircraft to Fly as a Fighter Pilot

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[doodskie]

The f16 aged like fine wine. For a plane designed in the 70's, it still really looks futuristic

[denniss.]

The amazing thing about the F-16 is that thrust to weight ratio was over 1!

Edit: Wow, thanks for all the likes.
I know that a thrust to weight ratio of >1 has become the norm in military aviation, but as a glider pilot it still amazes me, how powerful these machines are.

[crossfire]

Worked at General Dynamics and helped build the F-16. That plane is pretty much a seat strapped to an engine. It's bad ass!!!!

[joeclark]

F-16 is always smiling! Always happy to see ya!

[linusdoppke]

F-16 is a rocket with attached wings. Would love to experience a ride in it.

[JS-hupv]

Former F-4 pilot I knew when asked why he didn’t move into the F-16 when his unit got it: “I don’t want to be in something that can fly up its own ass.”

[josephkrause]

I remember going to Osan AB about 1991. I was sitting next to a Capt F-16 pilot. About halfway thru the flight, he breaks out a 4” binder. I asked if that was the flight manual. He said well, this is just the emergency procedures! At that moment, I was glad to be a heavy equipment operator on my way to the 554 Red Horse Squadron.

[calebwillis]

Would love to see the “tomcat” make a run again. Beautiful planes, made me fall in love with a aviation.

[Theoriginalbubbafett]

As a retiring NCO, I was offered an incentive ride. Remembering my days as a young airman, I begged off and asked for a young promising airman from my shop to be given the ride. They did and I’ll never forget the hug he gave me afterwards. I do have a tinge of regret, but I’m still happy with my decision. This is a phenomenal aircraft. The Fighting Falcon!

[vinsvids]

As an ex-Eagle driver, I respected the Lawn Dart tremendously. 😂

[stylusnc]

Growing up in the 80's/90's she had a special place in my heart

[jdub]

When I was a kid I used to be into making model air planes. I devoted one area of my room to just f-16"s. I had 13 on a desk. My mom used to be like, "I think you have a problem" lol

[dmvowell]

My grandfather worked on the F 16 project at GD in Fort Worth Test lab, They sent him to white sands where he passed away. I wish he had lived long enough to see the F 16 fly. I got to see the final test on the pilot ejection seat. Great stuff. My grandad was born in 1911, not too much flying around when he was a kid

[rallyhammer]

After my years in the Marine Corps I became a Contract Security Police Officer at Edwards AFB in Mojave Calif. On the F-16 Program and the Air Force chose it over Northrops F-20 Tiger Shark, (20 of them) so they were selling them to the Syrian Air Marshal but the made ONE big Mistake, they tried to bring him through my Gate without a Passport. He was in the U.S. Illegally and I placed him under Arrest. During my time at Edwards I recieved 28 letters of Comendation. I loved it there.

[wildchild]

F16 is unreal, but not unmatched. The thrust vectoring maneuverability combined with off the charts thrust poundage puts the F22 on a completely different level

[andrewlindell]

Dad flew an F-16. He loved it. Most bad ass jet

[GorillaCookies]

My Dad was a Marine Aviator for 9 years and then flew with the Air Force before retiring after 28 years active service. He flew F-4 Phantom with the Marines and then he flew F-4 s with the Air Force before flying F-15s and F-16s. He said the F-15 was fast and a fantastic Air Superiority platform because of it's payload, performance and presence. But in a dog fight going to gun in close, he'd take the F-16 over anything else. He said it's fast and slippery in a fight because it's light and very agile. He calls the F-16 a " Viper " not a
" Falcon " . I've never asked why they were called " Vipers " by their pilots and ground crew rather than " Falcons " . I'm going to find out

[susanpugh]

My Dad and I watched F16's take off from EGLIN AFB. He was a retired AF officer and went pretty much wherever he wanted (pre-911). My love for these jets has remained...

[jakegrube]

I love that its often nicknamed Viper as it was released around the same time as the original BattleStar Galactica

[akfortyfo]

Love hearing these types of perspectives from experienced pilots