Plastic model of the F-16D fighter

The miniature was built in 1:48 scale using the Kinetic kit. The Gallery represents photos taken at modeling exhibitions in Bytom and Świdnik, Poland in 2015.

The photographs represent the model of the F-16D fighter from the Polish Air Force.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was constructed in the USA by General Dynamics. It is a supersonic single-engine multi-role fighter. In Poland, due to the fact that we already have one Falcon (the PZL W-3 Sokół helicopter, sokół - English: falcon), the name F-16 Jastrząb (English: Hawk) was adopted, while American pilots rather use to name Viper.

Poland purchased 36 single-seater F-16Cs and 12 two-seater F-16Ds. The planes were delivered in 2006-2008. The F-16D is not only a training machine. It is also a fully combat aircraft for missions in which a two-man crew is required.

The jet prototype was first flown in early 1974, and the finished plane entered service in 1978. From then until September 2017, 4,588 copies were made and this is probably not the end of production. For over 40 years, the aircraft was being modernized and many versions with different equipment were created. Each such version is defined a "block" with a subsequent number. For this reason, specifications are not the same for all machines. The F-16C/D Block 52 planes were delivered to Poland.

Specifications for F-16D Block 52:

• Length: 15.04 m (49.34 ft),
• Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft),
• Height: 5.09 m (16.7 ft),
• Empty weight: 8273 kg (18.273 lb),
• Takeoff weight: 19187 kg (42300 lb),
• Max short term speed at 12192 m (26880 ft): 2511 km/h (1560 mph), (2,05 Ma),
• Max cruise speed at 12192 m (40,000 ft): 2315 km/h (1440 mph), (1,89 Ma),
• Fuel consumption with afterburner: 390 kg/min (860 lb/min).

Permanent armament:

• The M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon caliber 20 mm (0.787 in) mounted in a fuselage, intended for close combat. It can fire 6,000 rounds per minute. One bullet weighs 100 grams (0.22 lb) and is called a semi-armor-piercing high explosive incendiary. The ammunition drum is located in the fighter's hull just behind the cockpit and can hold 511 rounds.

Other weapons and equipment can be hung on:

• wingtips (two points),
• under the wings (six points),
• under the fuselage (three points).

They were purchased for Polish planes:

• Short-range air-to-air guided missiles (Sidewinder),
• Medium-range air-to-air guided missiles (Amraam),
• Air-to-ground guided missiles (Maverick),
• Ordinary aerial bombs with a nominal mass of 227 kg and 909 kg (500 lb and 2000 lb) and sets for converting them into guided bombs,
• Containers for precise destruction of ground targets, which can be equipped with various warheads. The range of these bombs is from 22 km to 130 km (13.7 mi to 81 mi) and depends on the height from which they are dropped,
• Targeting system (Sniper XR) that works also at night and in any weather. You can see it in the photos of the model. It is a bunker located under the fuselage on the right side of the air inlet. The front part of it with transparent windows is rotatable.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon#cite_note-Def1_F-16_line_to_SC-1
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16_w_Polskich_Si%C5%82ach_Powietrznych
• https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a451410.pdf
• http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article9.html
• http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article15.html
• http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article3.html
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzia%C5%82ko_M61_Vulcan
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M61_Vulcan
• http://www.f-16.net/f-16_armament_article5.html

10 Jan 2019