Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA38002Lockheed Martin F-16C 87-0284, 120th FS, Colorado Air National Guard, 2020
General Background
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the "Viper"; and will remain in USAF service until 2025.
The Aircraft
F-16C 87-0284 was completed in November 1988 and was assigned to the 480 TFS in January 1989. In June 1990 the aircraft transferred to the 613 TFS but in January 1992 moved to the 120 TFS/ 140th TFW of the Colorado Air National Guard. The 120th “Redeyes” refer to themselves as “Mile High Militia”. In 2003 the squadron deployed in support of “Iraqi Freedom” and later that year 87-0284 received a special Tiger paint scheme for the ”Tiger Meet of the Americas”. In 2020 the aircraft received a new tail design and paint scheme.
