Pakistan buys 13 F16 from Jordan

[Windjammer]

My dear these are not MLU but Block-15 ADFs.

I thought of the ''A'' and ''B'' models, only the MLU support the Bird cutter radar antennas. ?? !!

 

[Zarvan]

By the way hope we can get more F-16 from Norway and Netherlands and Denmark they are looking forward to buy F-35 to replace their F-16

 

[Luftwaffe]

As expected the aircraft were ferried by PAF pilots, does any one know the distance from Jordan to Pakistan.

Approximately 2139+ Miles [that's for Amman to Sargodha]

Do we know flight path...did these F-16s fly over Iran? general flight path and distance shows a direct flight over Iran.

 

[DANGER-ZONE]

I thought of the ''A'' and ''B'' models, only the MLU support the Bird cutter radar antennas. ?? !!

The ADF aircraft can be distinguished from "standard" F-16A/B's by several external identifying features, such as long and thin horizontal bulges on the base of the vertical tail (only A-models), plus a set of four blade antenna, nicknamed"bird-slicer", carried just forward of the canopy (as part of the IFF system).

F-16 Versions - F-16 ADF

Jordan have both F-16 MLUs and ADFs.
Their MLU are quite new and upto Block - 40 / 50 standard while ADFs are of Block-15 standard. So we are getting ADFs Block-15 ones not MLU ones.

 

[Windjammer]

Approximately 2139+ Miles [that's for Amman to Sargodha]

Do we know flight path...did these F-16s fly over Iran? general flight path and distance shows a direct flight over Iran.

With an F-16s ferry range of over 2600 miles, it was obviously a one legged flight and i don't see why Iran wouldn't allow a ferry flight through it's airspace but you have to admire the guys strapped into the seat for some five hours without even able to stretch a leg.

 

[Luftwaffe]

With an F-16s ferry range of over 2600 miles, it was obviously a one legged flight and i don't see why Iran wouldn't allow a ferry flight through it's airspace but you have to admire the guys strapped into the seat for some five hours without even able to stretch a leg.

Flying 4 hours above deserts and mountains...man these distinguished pilots learn alot about Terrain every flight counts.

 

[Windjammer]

A very reliable source tells me that TWO more should arrive today.

 

[Informant]

Whatever one may say, the F-16 is the sexiest looking aircraft on planet Earth!

A-10 after that. I for some reason never had a liking for the design of Flankers. I'm in the minority of such an opinion.

After A-10 then it's Tomcat.

 

[krash]

Fourth* operational F-16 unit.

With an F-16s ferry range of over 2600 miles, it was obviously a one legged flight and i don't see why Iran wouldn't allow a ferry flight through it's airspace but you have to admire the guys strapped into the seat for some five hours without even able to stretch a leg.

Meh....five hours is nothing to be honest. Especially if you love it.

 

[Windjammer]

Fourth* operational F-16 unit.



Meh....five hours is nothing to be honest. Especially if you love it.

When ferrying, it's basically above clouds, flat flight, no rolls, bank, breaks or Cuban eight... the best a pilot can do is move his neck around to look at his wing men.

 

[krash]

When ferrying, it's basically above clouds, flat flight, no rolls, bank, breaks or Cuban eight... the best a pilot can do is move his neck around to look at his wing men.

Yeah I get that. Was comparing it to 14+ hour flights cramped in an economy seat with my long legs. But I'm no fighter pilot so probably can't compare.

The PAF had 32 F-16s left over from Peace Gate-I&II .. Since then it received 12 F-16 A/Bs(some in MLU and some not) from its Peace Gate III & IV order of which 11 are left after 1 crashed in 2008. That gives it 43 F-16 A/B(MLU).. add to that the 18 Block-52..which makes it 61 and now the 13 RJAF F-16ADF which makes it 74 aircraft.

Now both 5, 9 and 11 sqs have 18 F-16s each. An option may be taken to beef up 9 and 11 sq with 6 and 7 F-16s to beef their strength or somehow 5 other F-16s have to be found to form a squadron.

Last I read, this purchase would increase the number to 76. 18 block 52+ and 58 block 15s. 58/3 gives us 19.333... which means that we can have 19, 19 and 20 birds in the 3 non block 52+ squadrons. Even if we take the total as 74 it would give us 3 squadrons of 18, 19 and 19 birds each or 18, 18 and 20 each. So I guess some birds will be shuffled from the No. 9 and/or the No. 11.

 

[Informant]

When ferrying, it's basically above clouds, flat flight, no rolls, bank, breaks or Cuban eight... the best a pilot can do is move his neck around to look at his wing men.

Do they fly in a V formation when travelling long distances?

Please i see you hold a little sway over officials, could you please askk them to change paint scheme from the miserable gray doom gloom to something spunky like the Turks with their neon orange paint jobs and chrome reds.

 

[Manticore]

Do they fly in a V formation when travelling long distances?

Please i see you hold a little sway over officials, could you please askk them to change paint scheme from the miserable gray doom gloom to something spunky like the Turks with their neon orange paint jobs and chrome reds.

the colour matches the colour of our sky - so the aircraft wont stand out

 

[krash]

Do they fly in a V formation when travelling long distances?

Please i see you hold a little sway over officials, could you please askk them to change paint scheme from the miserable gray doom gloom to something spunky like the Turks with their neon orange paint jobs and chrome reds.

Man, you're pulling our legs aren't you? The neon orange and chrome red jobs are just for display. The Turkish operational units have the blueish grey colours, exactly like what you saw on the birds we just received. Did you mean the Egyptian F-16s?

I for one love our 16's scheme. It's asymmetric, unique to PAF and with the new light grey nose cone it looks awesome. Plus like Manticore said ^^^ it works well with our skies.

I mean just look at it,

 

[SQ8]

I thought of the ''A'' and ''B'' models, only the MLU support the Bird cutter radar antennas. ?? !!

These are IFF antenna's for MLU , which was carried out even back in the late 80's and 90's.

The Hazeltine APX-111(V1) Advanced Identification Friend-or-Foe system (AIFF) with increased range performance (100 Nm) will operate via four (rather striking) antennas mounted on the upper forward fuselage in front of the canopy. These "bird slicers", more formally known as Upper Interogator Fuselage Mounted Antenna (FMA) Array, will be the most noticeable exterior change of the Mid Life Update.

The benefits of this AIFF system will be the support for BVR weapons delivery in excess of Radar/Missile limits and the enhanced situational awareness which reduces the chance of a fratricide.

The ADF derivatives also have a nice spotlight to the their side... looks like these have the provision for it as well.