IAF F-16 special feature

  Israel 60th Anniversary 2008 

by Yoav Efrati

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Hasegawa F-16A no.107

 

     This year Israel celebrates its 60th 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 2nd, 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.

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Hasegawa F-16A no.107

Hasegawa F-16A no.112

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Hasegawa F-16A no.112

     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.

Hasegawa F-16A no.777

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Hasegawa F-16A no.777

     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

Revell + Hasegawa -F-16D block 40 no.656

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Revell + Hasegawa -F-16D block 40 no.656

Revell F-16C block30 no.364

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Revell F-16C block30 no.364

 

Revell-F-16C b40 no.547 + Revell-Hasegawa F-16D b40 no.656

Revell IsraCast F-16i no.451

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Revell IsraCast F-16i no.451

 

Revell-F-16C block 40no.547

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Revell-F-16C block 40no.547

 

Revell-F-16C b40 no.547 + Revell-Hasegawa F-16D b40 no.656

Photos and text © by Yoav Efrati