Hobby Master 1/72 HA3808 F-16+ Fighting Falcon Block 32 86-0269, 64th Aggressor Sqn., Nellis AFB, Nevada
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.
During a “Red Flag Alaska” training exercise F-16C #86-0269 had a mid-air collision with F-15C #83-0017. The F-15 crashed but the F-16 managed to safely land at Eielson AFB, Alaska. F-16 #86-0269 belongs to the 64th Aggressor Squadron based at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada. This unit is dedicated to improving pilot combat performance. #86-0269 wore a Bort number “red 69” and was the first F-16 to receive the new blue “Mig blizzard” aggressor scheme that started to be used in late 2011 and early 2012.