Hobby Master 1/72 HA3865 Lockheed F-16D Fighting Falcon 335 Squadron, Hellenic Air Force 2018 NATO Tiger Meet, 14th May, 2018

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the “Viper” and will remain in USAF service until 2025.

The 335 Squadron “Tiger” is the oldest squadron in the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) stationed at Araxos AB near Patra. In 1953 the 335 Squadron was the first HAF Squadron to equip with new jets. F-16D 023 aircraft was one of the last F-16Ds to be received by the HAF 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing. This aircraft was one of the F-16s sent to the “NATO Tiger Meet 2018” held in Poznan-Krzesiny Poland. The HAF has ordered 170 F-16s comprised of F-16C/D Block 30, 50 and 52.