SPA Modeler

Article was posted in January 2024…

https://www.twz.com/flying-the-block-70 ... test-pilot

It's been around for a while, they're just now getting around to new ones. Taiwan already has them.

Looks pretty good as a two seater but not a fan of the aesthetics of the boxy spine.

I was out at Luke AFB for the air show two weekends ago and they had some Singapore Air Force F-16DUs on ground display there. Quite a bit bulkier than any previous variant that I've seen before...



I just took this photo for reference on the ordnance, but you can get a good view of the additional stuff on the spine.

Wow you got in? I heard it was a bit of a nightmare with hours of waiting in the car to get on base.

Yup, no problem if you leave early. Went on Sunday, left the house a bit after 7am, parked right away before they opened the gates out of the parking area, and just had to wait for that. They had full bore security screening there like getting in to any major sports event... but I can't blame them.

I have to say I'm not a big fan of the later block F-16s, with that blocky spin and the conformal fuel tanks - they do ruin the lines of the aircraft. Cool that it's still in production though.

The military will keep trying until they have done what they have always done with airplanes, just keep adding stuff to it until it just barely can fly.

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 3:22 am I have to say I'm not a big fan of the later block F-16s, with that blocky spin and the conformal fuel tanks - they do ruin the lines of the aircraft. Cool that it's still in production though.

I see the Japanese have put conformal tanks on the F-2 also