So many F-16s have been built that it’s the most common fixed-wing combat aircraft in military service around the world. This is due to the aircraft’s relative ease of use and demonstrated abilities in and out of combat for half a century. The F-16 was designed and built for a single purpose: Dogfighting. This was meant to counter the threat from the Soviet Union and elsewhere, where larger, faster fighters demonstrated superior dogfighting abilities.
The F-16 was designed with this in mind and was intended as a potential aircraft for export to U.S. allies. Some innovations built into the F-16 include its raised cockpit with a large frameless bubble canopy, offering a more expansive view of the airspace. Additionally, the F-16 can handle 9Gs in a dogfight and features a reclined cockpit seat to help compensate for the G-forces. The F-16 also removed a central control stick between the pilot’s legs, opting for a joystick-style flight controller mounted on the right side of the cockpit.
The F-16 also innovated a standard technology today known as “fly-by-wire,” which uses a flight computer to make adjustments to the aircraft during flight. This makes the F-16 easier to fly, prevents stalling, and makes it more maneuverable. This was a significant advancement that’s now found in just about anything and everything that flies. On top of these base features, the F-16 boasts an internal M61A1 20 mm Vulcan cannon and 11 hardpoints capable of carrying various bombs, missiles, rockets, and more.
