F-16 in the RAF

[Big Bird]

Hi this is my first What If in many years.

In late 1990, faced with the spiralling costs of the Eurofighter and our European partners getting nervous on cost, amount of aircraft required and build rations. Coupled with the news that the German government wanted to pull out of the contract. The MoD contacted the United states government with a view to purchasing the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The ideal would be for the airframes to be fitted with a Rolls Royce engine, Marconi avionics and assembled in the UK.
Before any such deal came to fruition the United States government made available to the MoD/RAF three airframes. These were basically F-16A/B airframes that had been used for testing and as company sales demonstrators.
The planes were delivered to Boscome Down in 1991 and testing/evaluation began with a newly formed RAF evaluation flight. The RAF pilots and the personnel at MoD Boscome Down were immediately impressed with the aircraft. The F-16s were unofficially named Tempest II by the evaluation flight, whether this name would have been officially chosen or sanction is now a matter of conjecture.
However all testing was halted in July 1992 when the German government admitted that it was legally bound by contract to stay with the Eurofighter project and all parties to the contract agreed on new take up amounts and the division of labour was re-negotiated.
The F-16 airframes were returned to the US and immediately mothballed at Davis-Monthan AFB 'bone yard'.
Thus ended the RAF's brief love affair with the F-16.





I've really enjoyed this one, the kit being an early Tamiya is not up to much but I like F-16's, a fun build.

[Rafael]

Welcome to the dark side, Mish!!!!

We have cookies!!!

Beautiful Viper

My favorite airplane of all time. And in British markings!!!

Rafa

[bexwh773]

Looks good Sis, even though its an F-Teenyboppa   Everyone let me introduce you to my "adopted" Sister Big Bird        

Bex

[sotoolslinger]

Love your plane BB  and any friend of Bexy is mine too

[lancer]

welcome to the asylum Big bird...Nice build, and even though I positively loathe the F16, yours does look good.  Looking forward to seeing more from you.

Watch out for the Texicans and Canadians... they're harmless enough, but feed 'em beer and twiglets to keep them nice and quiet in the corner...

[John Howling Mouse]

Hello, BB, welcome to the finest Canadian Whif Forum on the 'net.   

Love the perfect paintjob (have heard that some modelers can accomplish this but haven't experienced it firsthand yet).  Absolutely believable, too.

I'm a big fan of F-16's too: any aircraft that size which is capable of bringing what it can to the fight is a front runner in my books.  And this old Tamiya kit has a way of sticking with one, doesn't it?

Naturally, like any aircraft, F-16's do look best with a T-Tail and their main landing gear moved farther aft...

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,2713.msg30471.html#msg30471

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,3147.msg36386.html#msg36386

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,2479.msg27814.html#msg27814

[Damian2]

 

Nice one Mish!! Good to see her done finally!!

D

[bexwh773]

and any friend of Bexy is mine too

You on the pull yet again my Dear Toolslinger 
Bex

[sotoolslinger]

Hey just think of me as your big Texas brother

[sotoolslinger]

And soon to be  the leader of a vast stellar empire

[Taiidantomcat]

That is one smooth looking model...reminds me of a shark

[bexwh773]

Hey just think of me as your big Texas brother

I like the sound of that 
Anyways, just wait and see what BB has planned for you lot next, its a cracker 

Bex

[Leigh]

Welcome to the other side Mish, with a very nicely done model to boot.

Ignore the Rodent (he's a Canadian)

............Naturally, like any aircraft, F-16's do look best with a T-Tail and their main landing gear moved farther aft...

Everyone know's that F-16s look better with delta wings.http://www.leigheaton.com/weasel.htm

[Big Bird]

Very nice Leigh, I've seen that before haven't I?

[BlackOps]

Beautiful job on the RAF F-16 Big Bird  Very clean build, makes me jealous.