Hobby Master 1/72 HA3851 Lockheed F-16AM Block 15 No. 298, Norwegian Air Force
Hobby Master 1/72 Lockheed F-16AM Block 15 No. 298, Norwegian Air Force HA3851
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.
Lockheed F-16 80-3678 was manufactured in 1984 by Fokker as c/n L-158 and given serial 678. Norway began to receive the F-16 in 1982 and 678 was assigned to the RNoAF 331 Lion skv (squadron) in June 1984. In June 2002 678 was re-assigned to the 334 skv that had been the second squadron to be equipped with the new aircraft. This assignment was short lived as 334 skv was disbanded August 1, 2002. Norwegian F-16s belong to a pool known as Forsvarets Logistikk Organisasjon (FLO).