Tamiya 1/48 F-16CJ (Block 50) Fighting Falcon
Very highly detailed kit from Tamiya of the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon.
This Tamiya model represents the F-16CJ (Block 50) as used for USAF SEAD missions.
- Sleek fuselage including aerodynamic blended wing body design accurately reproduced.
- Accurately curved bubble top canopy can be assembled in the opened or closed position.
- Horizontal stabilizers are movable and flaperons can be modeled in both the up or down positions.
- A range of weapons and accessories are included such as HARM, AMRAAM, and Sidewinder missiles (M & X variants), detachable external fuel tanks, ECM pod, and HTS pod.
- One pilot figure included and can be depicted with either standard or JHMCS flight helmet.
- Detailed markings for 3 aircraft, including the 5th Air Force commander's aircraft stationed at Misawa airbase in 2005, are included.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it was a success on the export market, serving 24 countries. The F-16 is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since production started in 1976. Though no longer produced for the US Air Force, it is still produced for export.
The Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with innovations including a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. It was also the first fighter aircraft to be deliberately built to sustain 9g turns. It is also one of the few jets with a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one, giving the Falcon excellent acceleration.
Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to its pilots as the "Viper", after the Battlestar Galactica starfighter.