Scale: 1/48
Wingspan: 8.5"
Fuselage Length: 13"
The F-16 Fighting Falcon has seen action in numerous conflicts, mostly in the Middle East. In 1981, eight Israeli F-16s participated in a raid that destroyed Osiraq, an Iraqi nuclear reactor near Baghdad. During the same year, the Israeli Air Force obtained the first air-to-air “kills” for the entire F-16 series, shooting down a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter and a MiG-21 jet. In 1982, during Operation Peace for Galilee, Israeli F-16 Falcons engaged Syrian aircraft successfully on several occasions, which later on were also used in the ground-attack role for strikes against targets in Lebanon. Between May 1986 and November 1988, during the Soviet-Afghan War, Pakistani F-16s gunned down at least 10 Afghan and Soviet ground attack and transport aircraft.
USAF F-16 Falcons were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where 249 planes flew over 13,000 sorties in strikes against Iraq, the most of any Coalition aircraft. The fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and other targets. Five were lost in combat. The F-16s returned to Iraq in 1998 as part of the Operation Desert Fox bombing campaign and again in the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom invasion, flying ground support and suppression of enemy air defences missions.
F-16 Fighting Falcons were also employed during Bosnian peacekeeping operations (1994-1995) and Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia (1999). Since September 11, 2001, the Falcon has been a major component of the combat forces committed to the Global War on Terrorism. On June 7, 2006, F-16s carried out two airstrikes which killed Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, destroying the safehouse he was in. The USAF plans to retain the F-16 Falcon until 2025.
Hand-made and hand-painted, the plastic scale model of the F-16 Fighting Falcon that we offer is of museum quality. Carefully carved by skilled craftsmen, every piece is sanded and primed many times until perfect. A final coat of clear lacquer seals in the intricate details which have been meticulously painted on by talented artists. Each model comes with a beautiful mahogany-based chrome pedestal and undergoes several stages of quality control before being put in its box. Rest assured that when our customers receive their orders, they are getting a spectacular work of art. The F-16 model aircraft is great for both personal collections and gifts.
*Alteration on the design such as change of paint schemes and markings or embodied features on our models occurs at any time. Detachable stand is included with the model which may vary from the photo.
Aviation Modelworks 41/99
