F-16H

[MartG]

By 2012 it was becoming obvious that many countries operating the F-5 and F-16 would not be able to replace them with the F-35, due to financial considerations or export restrictions. Aircraft manufacturers therefore began looking at alternative solutions to provide a modern fighter at a reduced price. The proposal by Lockheed Martin to salvage obsolete F-16 airframes from storage at Davis Monthan AFB and remanufacture them with new wings was taken forward, and the F-16H was bought by many countries, including the example shown below operated by the RNZAF. The F-16H allowed conformal carriage of a pair of AIM-120 AMRAAMs under the wing roots, reducing drag and allowing the aircraft to supercruise. The new wings, plus judicious use of RAM elsewhere on the airframe also reduced the RCS by over 35% compared to the original F-16.

Airfix F-16 fuselage, wings from the YF-23 I'd already chopped up for an earlier build, not sure what the tailfins are off.

[GTX]

And here I was expecting an Indian F-16...

Regards,

Greg

[Rafael]

This is **really** how an F-16 should look like in the 21st century

Mart, you have made a stunning model

Rafa

[sotoolslinger]

Gorgeous

[Maverick]

Nifty conversion Mart!

The Viper's always been a sexy ship and even bog-standard, she's a better choice in many ways than the F-35, but this little beauty really looks the goods.

Regards,

Mav

[deathjester]

Brilliant!  Makes you wonder why GD didn't just do that in the first place.....

[pyro-manic]

Love it! 

[noxioux]

Pretty darn cool

[philp]

OK, now that is Nice.

[ChernayaAkula]

Hot damn, that looks cool! 

[The Rat]

SHOLY HIT! I never expected that. 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

H*ll yes !

Ian

[jorel62]

 
4 thumbs up

[Tophe]

wonderful...

[ysi_maniac]

 
I like this!