From YF-16 to Joint Strike Fighter

From YF-16 to Joint Strike Fighter

In the beginning of 1974, when I was about 10 years old and already collecting aviation stuff for a few years, the first prototype of the F-16 made its maiden flight. I was grasped by the shape of this little fighter. I witnessed this red-white-blue YF-16 turning into the multirole F-16 Viper, backbone of many air forces including the Dutch. Today, the last of about forty different versions, the F-16E/F Block 60, marks the end of an era. About 4500 F-16s were built, ranking the aircraft at the third place of planes built in greatest numbers. Only the F-4 Phantom at second and the MiG-21 at first place surpass the Viper.

Now its the Joint Strike Fighter's turn. Doesn't do much for me and, to suprise of some of you, I don't agree with the Dutch buying the thing. In my view we don't need it, just to show the Americans that we are the best boy in their classroom. Waste of money...

Image is a combination of hand-painted F-16s that were scanned, heavily retouched photo of Joint Strike Fighter and Terragen background, all edited in PS CS2.