The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics now Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force USAF. Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since 1976 and it is the world`s most numerous fixed-wing aircraft in military service.
The F-16`s official name is `Fighting Falcon`, but `Viper` is commonly used by its pilots and crews, due to a perceived resemblance to a viper snake as well as the Colonial Viper starfighter on Battlestar Galactica which aired at the time the F-16 entered service.
|
