The Fighting Falcon

The F-16 became the D.C. Air National Guard alert duty aircraft on Sept. 11, 2001, and for twelve years responded to more than 4,000 individual alert missions over the District of Columbia. The U.S. Air Force has flown the F-16 in every major conflict since its operational service date in 1980, including Panama, the Gulf War, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Odyssey Dawn. A single-engine, supersonic, multi-role tactical fighter aircraft, it is lightweight and nimble, has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack, can pull nine G-force maneuvers, and reach a maximum speed of more than Mach 2 (1,500 mph). Its innovations include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, a side-mounted control stick, and a reclined seat to reduce G-force effects. The aircraft displayed was the eighth F-16 to roll off the assembly line. It began life as a block 1 F-16A assigned to the world’s first F-16 Squadron, the 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on October 1, 1980, then was reassigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the world’s first operational combat F-16 Fighter Squadron, also at Hill AFB. Subsequently upgraded to a Block 10 model, it served in operational combat units stationed around the world, including at Nellis AFB, Nev., Torrejon Air Base, Spain, and finally Tucson ANG Base, Ariz., before being retired from the inventory in 1993. It was flown by numerous Capital Guardians in both training and operational roles, and Tail No. 78-008 is shown with the paint and labeling of the 113 Wing, D.C. Air National Guard.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States