Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA38008
F-16C Fighting Falcon "Shark" 86-0272, 57th Wing, 64th Aggressor Sqn., Nellis AFB, March 2017 
 
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 86-0272 c/n 5C-378 was produced in 1987 and assigned to 64 Aggressor Squadron (AS). In 1988 the aircraft was painted like a MiG-23 with a Bort number 72. In April 1989 the aircraft was the property of the Fighter Weapons School. In October 1993 the aircraft belonged to the 414th Combat Training Squadron "Red Flag" at Nellis AFB and received an Su-27 paint scheme. In October 2003 86-0272 returned to the 64 Aggressor Squadron and 2017 received a paint scheme resembling an Su-34. The Splinter and Shark paint schemes are the latest versions.