American multipurpose fighter aircraft F-16 (YF-16) First Flight 1974 COBI-5892 - Armed Forces 1:48

You know that:

• In 1967, forward-thinking Colonel John Boyn assembled a team of outstanding designers called the "Fighter Mafia" to create a lighter, more maneuverable, and cheaper aircraft to replace the aging F-104.
• The theory of "Energy and Maneuverability" of genius mathematician Thomas Christie was taken into account during the development of the machine.
• When the right people come together, the right thing happens, and that was the versatile F-16 fighter, which at the time of its introduction into the United States had no competitor.
• The official first flight of the fighter still under the designation YF-16 took place on February 2, 1974. Today we already know that it was not so much the very first launch. It happened a few days earlier on January 20, 1974, completely unplanned.
• Only one test was scheduled for January 20, during which test pilot Phil Oestricher was only required to drive down the runway at increased speed with the machine in constant contact with the ground.
• However, the test did not go according to plan.
• The level of vibration of the front landing gear was so high after exceeding the take-off speed that the pilot had no choice but to pull the control stick. Thus, the first flight happened a few days earlier, unintentionally and unplanned.
• Immediately after the first tests, it was clear that the designers had succeeded in building an extraordinary aircraft that maintains aerial supremacy even after more than 50 years since its first takeoff.
• The fighter was designed to be deployed in any weather, day or night.
• The design of the fighter can withstand 9G overload, even with full tanks.
• The Falcon is equipped with an advanced system of enemy weapon jamming.
• Thanks to constant modernization, the 4th and 5th generation aircraft are in demand and will continue in production until at least 2025.
• So far, more than 4,500 units have been produced in various versions.
• The price of one aircraft is around 20 000 000 €, depending on the equipment.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: span 9.1 m, length 14.08 m, height 5.09 m
• weight 5,983 kg empty
• propulsion unit General Electric F100 jet engine with 110 kN thrust
• volume of fuel tanks 3104 kg
• maximum speed 2145 km/h
• climb rate 254 m/s
• maximum flight level 15,000 m
• maximum range 2897 km
• armament built-in rotary cannon M61A1 Vulkan caliber 20 mm (511 rounds)
• crew 1 person

Test pilot Phil Oestricher about the YF-16:

"It was a feeling of complete freedom. Just me, a plane with extraordinary abilities and infinite space. That machine had only one flaw. I couldn't tell anyone about it and share my joy."