Designed as a "light" air superiority fighter by General Dynamics, the first YF-16 flew 30 years ago in January 1974. Since that time the F-16 has appeared in many sub-variants.. I will not go into too much detail on the history and technical details, on the internet a lot of information can be found (like on our member Meindert's F-16 page here.... )
The Lockheed (previously General Dynamics) F-16 Fighting Falcon is used by many air forces around the world, including the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht). Some 213 F-16A and F-16B Fighting Falcons were ordered by Dutch AF and delivered between 1979 and 1990 to replace NF-5 and the F-104 Starfighters. They became the backbone of the current Dutch Air Force KLu.
Many Dutch F-16's receive(d) a Mid Life Update and program in 2000 for most aircraft. The F16AM is the official type specification for a MLU F-16. The AM and BM versions are Mid-Life Updates (MLU) of the regular A and B versions ("block 10" and "block 15").
Nowadays the operational KLu aircraft fleet is drastically reduced and plans are that the F-16's will be replaced in the KLu by the Lockheed F-35A JSF.
OVER 500 PHOTO'S
NOTE: FOR OTHER VERSIONS AND AIR FORCES... LOOK at Page 2 here....
F-16BM MLU KLu "Orange Jumper" test aircraft
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) also has a test aircraft two seater F-16B MLU. It is used for testing delivery of ordnance but also for new systems, seekers, avionics and much more. This aircraft has the nickname "Orange Jumper", with code " J-066". (A special article was published in our IPMS NL MIP Magazine nr 2010-4).
Photographed 1998 by Meindert de Vreeze (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
and additional photo's of the F-16B MLU "Orange Jumper" :
Photographed 2010 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Photographed 2016 Leeuwarden by Meindert de Vreeze (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16AM MLU KLu
For training, several KLu aircraft are often based in the USA such as Nellis AFB. The KLu aircraft seen here is F-16A MLU "J-647". It is fitted with a "travel pod" below the center fuselage.
Photographed 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16AM MLU KLu
These F-16A MLU "J-647" an "J-063" of the KLu was also seen at a Nellis AFB base in the USA.
Photographed 2009 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16AM KLu
This F-16A MLU of the KLu was seen at a Dutch AFB with some parts in crates.
Photographed 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16BM MLU KLu
Here several two seat F-16B MLU aircraft of the KLu are shown while training in the USA.
Photographed 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16AM KLu cockpit
Here cockpit details are shown of a F-16A MLU of the KLu.
Photographed 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16BM KLu two seat cockpit
Here cockpit details are shown of a two seater F-16B MLU of the KLu.
Photographed 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16 details (various)
Here details are seen (mostly of F-16A MLU aircraft) like the undercarriage.
Photographed 2013 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
and Pratt and Whitney F100 engine...
and various opened up panels on the airframe and some cockpit....
Smokewinder at the wing tip:
F-16 ACES seat
Details of the ACES II ejection seat during maintenance. This type of seat is most commonly used.
Photographed 2010 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16A KLu early service career
Here are shown operational F-16A aircraft as used in the 1980s in the KLu. Still fitted with the early short tail fairing without parachute pack. (later upgrades were made). Standard grey camouflage scheme with small squadron badges. A KLu 75 Years painted F-16 is also seen from 1988.
Photographed / slide scans 1980s by Fred Bachofner (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16B KLu early service career
Two seater F-16B's as used in the 1980s in the KLu. Still fitted with the early short tail fairing without parachute pack. Standard grey camouflage scheme with small squadron badges.
Photographed / slide scans 1980s by Fred Bachofner (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16 KLu varia
Here are shown some operational F-16 aircraft of the KLu as used in the 1980s in the KLu. Seen at air shows.
Photographed 1980s by Bas Damen (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16AM MLU KLu
A pair of F-16A MLU aircraft coded "J-018" and "J-366" and used from Tucson Arizona with the code "AZ".
Photographed November 2016 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
F-16A Block 10 KLu
After being retired from active Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) service in 1982 this F-16A Block 10 coded "256" after a while went to the Technical University Delft (TU DELFT), Dept. of aerospace engineering, Delft, The Netherlands. It is used to educate students and various parts have been disassembled.
Photographed Summer 2017 by Meindert de Vreeze (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Many many models of the F-16 have appeared in scale plastic. Too many too list, but in 1/72 the Revell kit is very good as well as the Tamiya F-16C kit, in 1/48 the Hasegawa kit is very good. In 1/32 the Academy kit is good for both a F-16C and two seater F-16D. The Tamiya F-16C kit in 1/32 is very detailed but expensive.
Enthusiasts, modellers and historians can see more on our Dutch KLu F-16 NedMil pages here....
NOTE: FOR OTHER VERSIONS AND AIR FORCES... LOOK at Page 2 here....
This walk around page was first created August 2012 by M. de Vreeze