Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 first flight at Greenville facility

Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70 performed its first flight on Tuesday at its Greenville, S.C., facility.

The flight occurred at 9:17 a.m. EST, with Lockheed Martin test pilots Dwayne "Pro" Opella and Monessa "Siren" Balzhiser at the helm. Total flight time was approximately 50 minutes and included airworthiness checks, such as engine, flight control, and fuel system checks, as well as basic aircraft handling.

This F-16 Block 70 jet is the first of 16 jets to be delivered to Bahrain. Six countries have selected Block 70/72 aircraft. In addition to the current official backlog of 128 jets to-date to be built in Greenville.

Jordan last year signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for eight jets and last week signed an additional LOA for four more jets. Lockheed Martin has received a contract to begin Jordan's long-lead activities.

Bulgaria has also signed an LOA for an additional eight jets for its fleet. Once these are finalized, the backlog will increase to 148.

The F-16 is a strategic and valuable choice for many customers around the world seeking advanced, 4th generation fighter aircraft capabilities, regional and worldwide partnerships, and affordable lifecycle costs.

More than 3,000 F-16s are operating today in 25 countries. The F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours and at least 13 million sorties.

The Block 70/72 features advanced avionics, a proven Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, a modernized cockpit with new safety features, advanced weapons, conformal fuel tanks, an improved performance engine, and an industry-leading extended structural service life of 12,000 hours.

Operational capabilities are enhanced through an advanced datalink, targeting pod and weapons, Infrared Search and Track system; precision GPS navigation, and the proven life-saving Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System. Additionally, the new Block 70/72 Modular Mission Computer combines state-of-the-art computing capabilities for weapons and avionics in a single system, which results in more capability for the pilot and jet, with less costly software upgrades over time.

F-16 BLOCK 70/72

• Length: 49.3 ft
• Height: 16.7 ft
• Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2+)
• Wingspan: 31.0 ft
• Empty Weight: 20,300 lb
• Engine Thrust Class: 29,000 lb
• Maximum TOGW: 48,000 lb
• Design Load Factor: 9 g
• Service Life: 12,000 hr

Air Force investigating upgrade for F-16 Thunderbirds flight control computer

The Air Force is seeking information on a sustainment upgrade for the current F-16 Thunderbirds Block 52 Digital Flight Control Computer (DFLCC), according to contract documents released Friday. The project is being managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter/Bomber Directorate, F-16 Program Contracting Office, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

The DFLCC provides the ability to manage control surface inputs, change gains for different flight phases and processes signals from air data and other sources in controlling the aircraft, The government is investigating the possibility of initiating a USAF Thunderbird F-16 DFLCC modification. The upgraded DFLCC is required to address the rudder restriction in the current -12 DFLCC Thunderbird configuration in order to allow the current show profile to be flown.

The Air Force is conducting a market assessment to identify potential sources, and companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to respond to the requirements, officials said in contract documents. “This announcement constitutes a purpose of conducting market research only. No solicitation exists. This is not a request for a quote, request for proposal, or an invitation to bid.”

New airborne target tracking system tested aboard F-16

Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod recently completed its first flight test, successfully tracking multiple airborne targets while flying on an F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Legion Pod was integrated onto the F-16 without making any hardware or software changes to the aircraft. Additional flight tests on the F-16 and F-15C will continue throughout the year.

"Legion Pod is a production-ready, multi-sensor system," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of fire control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Equipped with an IRST21 infrared sensor and advanced networking and data processing technology, Legion Pod provides high-fidelity detection and tracking of airborne targets. It also accommodates additional sensors without costly system or aircraft modifications.

Legion Pod is available to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force F-15C infrared search and track program of record, which include long-range detection and tracking in a wide field of view. Its flexible design and open systems architecture enable Legion Pod to offer a variety of capabilities for other fighter and non-fighter aircraft.

Video: Air Force F-16 takes off after pilot leaves cockpit

The Boeing Company and U.S. Air Force have completed the first unmanned QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target flight, demonstrating the next generation of combat training and testing.

Two U.S. Air Force test pilots in a ground control station remotely flew the QF-16, which is a retired F-16 jet modified to be an aerial target. The QF-16 mission profile included auto takeoff, a series of simulated maneuvers, supersonic flight, and an auto land, all without a pilot in the cockpit.

The milestone flight initiates more operational evaluations, including a live fire test at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The Navy, Army and Air Force will ultimately use QF-16s for weapons testing and other training.

Boeing has modified six F-16s into the QF-16 configuration. Low-rate initial production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter, with first production deliveries in 2015.

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F-16C Falcon jets collide near Chincoteague, Va.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued an Air National Guard pilot Friday after his plane went down approximately 35 miles southeast of Chincoteague, Va.

The Coast Guard 5th District Command Center received notification via an automated Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking distress signal from an ejection seat registered to an Air National Guard plane at approximately 10:28 p.m. EDT Thursday.

The Navy's Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach contacted Coast Guard officials and confirmed two 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard F-16C Falcon jets were involved in a mid-air collision. One pilot ejected while the second Falcon flew back to Joint Base Andrews, Md.

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was dispatched to the scene to assist in the rescue. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Friday, the Jayhawk crew hoisted the pilot and transferred him to Joint Base Andrews.

The pilots were on a routine training mission, military officials said in a press statement. Both pilots were transported to a medical facility at Joint Base Andrews. One pilot was released and the other was transferred to an offsite medical facility for minor injuries.

The rescued Falcon pilot was in good condition, and the cause of the mishap is under investigation.

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