Hobby Master 1:72 F-16 Fighting Falcon: Lockhead F-161 Sufa

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.

The first 50 Lockheed F-16I Sufa (Storm) for the IAF arrived with tail numbers in the 400 series
and were assigned to the 119th and 253rd Squadrons. The 52 aircraft of the second wave came
with tail numbers in the 800 series. In July 2006 the 107th Squadron (Knights of the Orange Tail)
received their first F-16I’s followed by 4 more aircraft two months later. The 107th Squadron was
formed in 1953 equipped with Spitfires. The F-16I has CFTs (Conformal Fuel Tanks) and a
dorsal spine avionics compartment.