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Walkaround #1069

These photos were taken by Yoav Efrati

Click on images below to see larger images

This year Israel celebrates its 60^th year of independence. For this year's feature I decided to present photos of my personally favorite – the F-16 Fighting Falcon, in the multitude of markings carried by the Israeli Air Force.

     The first F-16's landed in Israel on July 2^nd, 1980 one of which was tail number 107 that went on to become the world's record holder for the number of air to air kills credited to the F-16. In five consecutive Peace Marble acquisitions, the IAF acquired 362 F-16 Fighting Falcons of the F-16A/B/C/D versions in block 5, 10, 15, 30, 40 and 52 configurations that are currently the backbone of the IAF.

Flying Wing sq-F-16A no.107-24Apr08	Flying Wing sq-F-16A no.107-24Apr08	First Jet sq-F-16A no.112-24Apr08	Orange Tail sq-F-16i no.865-24Apr08

     IAF F-16's are credited with downing 52.5 kills, two of which were explosive filled GPS guided UAV's launched at Israel during the summer 2006 Second Lebanon War. The first world kill for the F-16 goes to First Jet sq F-16A no.112 that downed a Syrian Mil-8 helicopter on April 28, 1981. Credit for the first world kill of a MiG-21 by an F-16 goes to F-16A no.219 flown by Knights of the North squadron commander Amir Nachomi who also holds the world's record for an F-16 pilot at 7 kills. By far the most successful F-16 is tail number 107 that when in service with the First Jet squadron, it downed 6.5 kills (the other .5 is shared with F-16A no.129) during the 1982 Lebanon War carrying the Hebrew name Sufa on its vertical fin. In the year 1999 when in service with the Negev squadron, it also acquired an Iraqi nuclear power-plant bombing mission marking that it wears today flying for the Flying Wing squadron.

     On April 24, 2008 I had the pleasure of visiting the IAF museum and on display was F-16A no.107 alongside one of the latest F-16i (block 52 F-16D) Sufa aircraft no.865 operated by the Orange Tail squadron. This impressive pair along with the new F-16 kits due out on the market this year provided me with the incentive to present before you a selection of F-16 operated by the IAF.

Yoav

Orange Tail sq-F-16i no.865-24Apr08	Orange Tail sq-F-16i no.865 24apr08 -vert fin	Orange Tail sq-F-16i Sufa 865 with F-16A Netz no.107	Bat sq-F-16i no.447-02May06

Bat sq-F-16i no.451-29May06	Bat sq-F-16i no.455 11May05 vert fin	Dragon sq-F-16A no.124-2007	Dragon sq-F-16A no.223-2007

First Ftr sq-F-16C b40-511-02Feb05	First Ftr sq-F-16C b40-511 02Feb05 vert fin closeup	First Ftr sq-F-16C b40-519-02Feb05	First Ftr sq-F-16C b40-547-02Feb05

First Ftr sq-F-16C b40-547- 02Feb05-vert fin closeup	First Ftr sq-F-16D b30 no050	First Jet sq-F-16C b30 no.315-03jan07	First Jet sq-F-16C b30 no.356 24apr07 vert fin closeup

First Jet sq-F-16Cb30 no.304-First Jet sq-11may05	Flying Wing sq-F-16A no.126-02Feb05	Flying Wing sq-F-16A no.275 02Feb05 027 fin closeup	Flying Wing sq-F-16B no.983- 02Feb05

Golden Eagle sq-F-16A no.234-2Feb05	Golden Eagle sq-F-16A no.243 ver fin closeup	Golden Eagle sq-F-16A no.246-2Feb05	Golden Eagle sq-F-16B no.001-02Feb05

Knights of North sq-F-16C b30 no.386-03jan07 vert fin closeup	Knights of North sq-F-16Cb30 no.359-03jan07	Knights of North sq-F-16Cb30 no.364-with kill-23apr07	Manat test&eval sq-F-16D no.601

 

Manat test&eval sq-F-16D no.601-vert fin	Negev sq-F-16i no.253-23Apr07	Negev sq-F-16i no.253-23Apr07	Negev sq-F-16i no.253 23Apr07 vert fin

 

Pheonix sq -F-16A no.708	Pheonix sq-F-16A no.702 & 714	Pheonix sq-F-16A no.757-vert fin	Pheonix sq-F-16A no.769

 

Scorpion sq-F-16C b40 no.558-May2005	Scorpion sq-F-16Db40 no.610-08mar08	Scorpion sq-F-16Db40 no.610 08mar08 vert fin	Valley sq- F-16D b30 no.036 11May0544

 

Valley sq-F-16D b30 no.074-24apr07	Valley sq-F-16D b30 no.074 24apr07 vert fin