Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon - News

Forest Green

Forest Green

ACCESS: Above Top Secret
Joined
11 June 2019
Messages
9,421
Reaction score
17,162
Forest Green said:
In relation to crash late last year.
www.airandspaceforces.com

F-16 Navigation System Failure in Bad Weather Led to Crash

The failure of an F-16 fighter’s navigation system and its backup combined with poor weather led to a $28 million crash in December 2023.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
Click to expand...

It looks like it was a close squeak for the pilot. I wonder if the South Koreans will be able to salvage and raise the wreckage of the F-16? If they can then they should be able access the fighter's blackbox.
 
snne said:
A Turkish "Solotürk" aerobatic demo F-16 almost crashed into the crowd at Teknofest

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841908039797879271
View: https://x.com/tolgaozbek_com/status/1841908039797879271


Imagine the horror, thank God it didn't crash...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sknyliv_air_show_disaster
Click to expand...

They grounded the aircraft, apparently the Flight Control Computer malfunctioned aircraft performed a barrel roll when the pilot was pulling away from the crowd. Damn lucky he gained control, that aircraft was heading straight into the crowd otherwise..
https://twitter.com/x/status/1842203585511035172
View: https://x.com/avionot/status/1842203585511035172
 
One would have assumed 100% investigation into how things work would have been a priority. These things are almost at a level you can make Civil Wars out of.
 
I only see a pilot error. I don´t see why there is a polemic with the FCS here. On the contrary it performed fairly well, rocket rolling the aircraft back on its belly before performing a sharp climb/ high AoA pull-up away from the crowd (you can even see a stable G-loaded 90cdeg turn afterward).
The FCS is what was functioning here. The grounding might be more on the adrenaline shot or, perhaps more appropriately, the plunging Belle's décolleté where the falcon eyed pilot lost his SA. ;)
 
Last edited:
That ain't no FCS failure

It was a perfect display of Turkish 'bravado' which was literally one second away from their own Sknyliv disaster. No wonder they lost 1 out of every 9 Falcon they got
 
Entirely political commentary:

Those shows are now meant for the 2028 Presidential Elections; there might be a new candidate. Giving up the company after that UCAV, to control the country, keeping things as is. If a plane crashes or looks like crashing it might decrease the crowds in the future events. The pilot is most likely a marked man now. First comment.

Second, my one. For "sabotage to happen" or some kill-switch there should have been something. As big as taking part in a recent strike. This fails to explain why the plane could recover. If there was anything like that in the first place.

No comments from some others.

Hence the final one that keeps the option of political advantage; might return to it later on. Citing a low level Phantom run that hit the top of a minaret so many years ago.
 
TomcatViP said:
I only see a pilot error. I don´t see why there is a polemic with the FCS here. On the contrary it performed fairly well, rocket rolling the aircraft back on its belly before performing a sharp climb/ high AoA pull-up away from the crowd (you can even see a stable G-loaded 90cdeg turn afterward).
The FCS is what was functioning here. The grounding might be more on the adrenaline shot or, perhaps more appropriately, the plunging Belle's décolleté where the falcon eyed pilot lost his SA. ;)
Click to expand...

That's my thinking as well.
Flying directly towards and over the crowd instead of parallel to it isn't the FCS fault...
 
This is not F-16 news, that should be on F-16 Ukr AF
 
Ozair said:
I'm surprised the UK hasn't commented on this unless there is an agreement that the aircraft cannot be used near the Falklands.
Click to expand...
I don't think the UK had much say in this. In my opinion, UK was told to be quiet as any British concerns over Falklands were outweighed by US concerns of China getting a larger foothold in Argentina and South America's weapon purchases. Compared to that, the <1% chance that some future Argentina government would actually do something with regards to Falklands was deemed irrelevant.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1858850962938507495
View: https://x.com/AEnthusiast92/status/1858850962938507495

theaviationist.com

F-16 Cockpit Collapsible ACE Ladder Wins Air Force Innovation Competition

F-16 pilot developed a cockpit stowable collapsible ladder to aid Agile Combat Employment operations. At a time when the U.S. Air Force is heavily
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
www.airandspaceforces.com

The F-16 Has No Built-In Ladder, But That Could Change Soon

An Air Force F-16 pilot designed a collapsible ladder that weighs just six pounds and folds into the unused cockpit map case.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
its-been84years.gif
 
Highly surprised that the F-16 never had a built in ladder like the F-35, was it to avoid weight increases at the time as was the same with the F-15 and F-22.
 
VishnuOsiris said:
Why? Clearly she's no F-35, but she will be effective in the Standoff and (D)Counter-Air role, no? Better than nothing?
Click to expand...
It's basically as good as nothing for the capabilities it offers (even purely on a specifications basis). The bases where these jets are going to be deployed at are set to be among the first to be (absolutely) annihilated in wartime. Even if they try to do what Ukraine has done, they are a small island and China's intelligence and strike capabilities are unmatched, especially in their own backyard, even compared to the combined might of the US military and its allies.


Taiwan has already sacrificed more than enough for the promise of de facto independence, and it keeps doing so every time the US demands yet another thing from them. What has the US provided/promised to provide in return?
 
Last edited:
The first F-16 Block 70s ordered by Taiwan in 2019 have been rolled out by LM, from Defense Updates:


Lockheed Martin unveiled Taiwan's first newly built F-16 Block 70 during a rollout ceremony at its Greenville, South Carolina, facility on March 28, 2025. The aircraft, an F-16D which is a two seater variant, with serial number 6831, is the first of 66 F-16 Block 70s ordered in 2019 as part of an $8 billion deal.
Click to expand...
These new aircraft will complement the 139 F-16s already in service with the Taiwanese Air Force.
Click to expand...
The existing fleet was upgraded from the original F-16 Block 20 Mid-Life Update (MLU) configuration to the F-16V Block 70 standard. The F-16V reached Final Operational Capability in 2021, with the last upgraded aircraft delivered in 2023. According to the Taipei Times, the new jets will be assigned to the 7th Tactical Fighter Wing to bolster Taiwan’s eastern defenses.The publication also reported that during a January 2025 inspection, President William Lai stated that two of the wing’s three tactical groups had been staffed and were awaiting aircraft deliveries.
Click to expand...
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how F-16 Block 70 provides Taiwan with a means to counter China?
#defenseupdates #usvschina #taiwanvschina
Click to expand...
Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:32 SPONSORSHIP - NordVPN
02:06 THE DEAL
03:17 F-16 BLOCK 70 IS POTENT
06:43 ANALYSIS
Click to expand...
 
Looks like my country's finally gonna get some F-16s for their Air Force. About time!
www.rappler.com

US State Department OKs 'possible' sale of F-16s to the Philippines

(1st UPDATE) The Philippines’ ambassador to the US says the potential purchase — estimated to cost $5.58 billion — could ‘possibly’ be funded by both the Philippines’ modernization budget and a government-to-government loan
www.rappler.com www.rappler.com
The possible purchase, as approved by the DSCA, includes 16 F-16 C Block aircraft, four F-16 D Block aircraft, 20 installed engines and 4 spares, radars, missile launches and missiles, and anti-aircraft guns, among others. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it added.
Click to expand...
 
La-Fuente Technologies said:
Looks like my country's finally gonna get some F-16s for their Air Force. About time!
www.rappler.com

US State Department OKs 'possible' sale of F-16s to the Philippines

(1st UPDATE) The Philippines’ ambassador to the US says the potential purchase — estimated to cost $5.58 billion — could ‘possibly’ be funded by both the Philippines’ modernization budget and a government-to-government loan
www.rappler.com www.rappler.com
Click to expand...

Trying to keep the Philippines from buying Gripens.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom