Meski dibangun pada era Perang Dingin, F-16 Fighting Falcon yang juga dikenal dengan julukan Viper masih menjadi salah satu pesawat andalan Amerika Serikat. Pesawat ini juga belum terkalahkan dalam hal tingkat laku di pasar internasional. Pada 2015, pesawat yang dibangun Lockheed Martin ini menduduki peringkat pertama dengan 2.264 pesawat atau 16 persen dari penggunaan seluruh dunia. Selanjutnya diikuti F-18 Hornet / Super Hornet yang juga dibuat di AS. Ada 1.047 jet tempur F/A-18 di dunia atau tujuh persen dari total jumlah pesawat militer operasional global.
Sedangkan jet tempur Su-27 Flanker dan Su-30 Super Flanker menduduki peringkat ketiga dalam hal jumlah operasional hingga 2015. Menurut laporan Flight International yang bebasis di London, ada 943 jet tempur Su-27 / Su-30 yang menyumbang 6 persen dari total jumlah pesawat tempur di dunia. Foto-foto ini diambil ketika sejumlah F-16 sedang melakukan persiapan untuk lepas landas dari Eielson Air Force Base, pada 7 Desember 2015 lalu.
Lowering a Canopy
Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Sletten lowers the canopy on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft before taxiing to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. More than 30 maintenance airmen worked an early shift to help launch several jets to Tyndall Air Force, Fla., for Checkered Flag 16-1, a large-force exercise that simulates a deployed environment to cross-check weapons systems. Sletten is an F-35 Program integration officer. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Preparing to Taxi
An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft pilot prepares to taxi onto the taxiway on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Preflight Checks
Air Force Airman 1st Class Steven Donnelly completes preflight checks on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. Donnelly is a crew chief assigned to the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Final Checks
Airmen perform final preflight checks on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Pilot’s Preparation
An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft pilot prepares to taxi before taking off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Ushering a Falcon
An airman ushers an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft out of the bay onto the taxiway on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. The airman is assigned to the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Ready for Takeoff
An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot waits to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford
Full Flightline
F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft pilots wait to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Swafford.
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