This is a huge year for the F-16. The most successful 4th generation fighter of all time with nearly 5,000 jets produced just marked 50 years since its first flight.
https://www.twz.com/air/viper-demo-t...th-anniversary
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This is a huge year for the F-16. The most successful 4th generation fighter of all time with nearly 5,000 jets produced just marked 50 years since its first flight.
https://www.twz.com/air/viper-demo-t...th-anniversary
Gettin' down innagrass.
Let's Go Brandon!
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If I didn't already feel old, that would do it.
As a kid I remember watching F-4 Phantoms flying out of Homestead AF base over my house in Plantation, FL. Would have been 73-74 or around there. One of the first model planes I ever built. F-15s would have been cutting edge at the time.
It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.
Chuck, we miss ya man.
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Wow, that's nuts. 50 and still going strong. The Marines' AV-8B Harrier is a lot younger than that (operational 39 years) and the last two squadrons are changing to F-35s by 2026.
I grew up in eastern NC, with family in Goldsboro, NC, so very fond memories of F-4s, B-52s, A-4s, A-6s, F-18s, EA-6Bs, AV-8Bs... almost all of which have long since been retired.
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My Uncle used to work on them during the Viet Nam era.
I got to sit in one when I was a kid and we went on vacation to see him in Nevada.
Pretty exciting.
Also saw a impressive B-52, it was pretty hard to wrap my 10 year old mind around how anything that massive could fly.
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Yup, I remember watching F4's fly when I was kid too. Hawaii's guard unit had them and would fly overhead all the time leaving their signature black smoky exhaust. They then moved to F-15's and now they have the 22's.Originally Posted by SteyrAUG
It probably would have been cheaper for the state to move to 16's from the F-4's, but I guess the 15's fit the needed Air superiority role a little better. The 22's even more so.
Last edited by Adrenaline_6; 05-16-24 at 09:55.
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From my understanding the Marine F35B is much easier to train in VSTOL then the Harrier, and because of the high percentage of commonality with Navy and Air Force F35s it is easier to get parts and maintainers as well.
To get back on topic, I remember watching Iron Eagle (horrible movie) over and over again as a kid, that, Top Gun and GI Joes all heavily influenced me in my early years. I even loved the sequel to Romancing the Stone with Mike Douglas because of the F16 in that movie.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, “History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.”
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Back in ‘75 I was escorting Army convoys at Eglin AFB and I enjoyed watching the F4’s take off, side by side (like they were drag racing). Thank God for the Fighter Mafia...
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This reminds me, I need to read this book again...
"Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War"
"John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history. Some remember him as the greatest U.S. fighter pilot ever -- the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than forty seconds. Some recall him as the father of our country's most legendary fighter aircraft -- the F-15 and F-16. Still others think of Boyd as the most influential military theorist since Sun Tzu. They know only half the story."
I didn't need to be a giant Air Force Fanboy to be amazed at the accomplishments of this man.
Worth your consideration if you're looking for your next read.
https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-...=UTF8&qid=&sr=
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do."
Benjamin Franklin
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My other memory was vising my grandparents and landing at DSM airport where the Iowa Guard had a few Corsair II's ready to fly.
It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.
Chuck, we miss ya man.
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Senior Member
As a kid, I lived in DFW for about eight years (my Dad had recruiting duty) and I used to go to NAS-Dallas (especially after I got my DL) and LTV was next-door. I also remember the P2V’s.
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