F-16C Fighting Falcon

A look-down view of a Tiger-striped F-16C belonging to the 140th Fighter Wing, 120th Fighter Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard, as the aircraft flies over eastern Utah while returning from the Utah Test and Training Range. The aircraft has tiger-stripes applied to the upper surfaces and represented the Colorado ANG as their official Tiger jet as the unit hosted the Inaugural Tiger Meet of the Americas in mid-August. The inaugural meet closely mirrors the NATO Tiger Meet and brings together military units that have large cats as their mascots. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg L. Davis)

F-16 Fighting Falcon

An U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon flies towards Rimini, Italy to join with the Italian air force in a training mission. U.S. Air Forces from the 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy and Italian Air Forces from the 83rd Combat Search and Rescue Squadron, Rimini, Italy, participated in a 4-day training mission from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8, 2001. The mission involved U.S. F-16 aircrews locating and authenticating survivors and coordinate pickup with Italian rescue crews. F-16s were also tasked with escorting helicopters to protect them from air and ground threats. This is the first ever tasking of a full-time combat search and rescue mission for F-16s from the 510th Fighter Squadron. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Dave Ahlschwede)

F-16C Fighting Falcon

Lt. Col. Mike Cosby, 177th Fighter Wing commander, flies an F-16C block 25 aircraft from here to Atlantic City International Airport, N.J. The wing participated in Combat Archer training at Tyndall. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Don Taggart)

F-16C Fighting Falcon

A 482nd Fighter Wing F-16C Fighting Falcon near the southern Florida coastline over Homestead Air Reserve Base. The aircraft carries AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, a single GBU-12, ALQ-131 jamming pod and a lighting targeting pod. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Joe Cupido)

F-16C Fighting Falcon

A 482nd Fighter Wing F-16C Fighting Falcon near the southern Florida coastline over Homestead Air Reserve Base. The aircraft carries AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, a single GBU-12, ALQ-131 jamming pod and a lighting targeting pod. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Joe Cupido)

F-16 Fighting Falcon

In an air combat role, the F-16 Fighting Falcon's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles, deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions. (Photo: U.S Air Force)

F-16C Fighting Falcon

An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, lands after flying a mission against targets in Yugoslavia on Wednesday, April 7, 1999. The mission was part of NATO Operation Allied Force. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multirole fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

F-16 Fighting Falcon

Two F-16 Fighting Falcons fly April 8, 2011, above Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

F-16 Fighting Falcon

An F-16 Fighting Falcon touches down April 8, 2011, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)