The F-16 at 50: Why it's still in demand

Summary

1. Over 4,600 aircraft were produced, with more than 800 still in U.S. Air Force service (2023).
2. Transitioned from dogfighter to ground attack and reconnaissance roles.
3. The prototype nearly crashed during testing.
4. Remains a frontline combat aircraft, significantly impacting modern aviation.

References

• Media Check: BBC News - Media Bias Fact Check (HIGH CREDIBILITY)
• Collections |The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• ADDITIONAL READING RAAF RUNWAY (PME)
• RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC