Hobby Master 1/72 HA3882 Lockheed F-16C 88-0454, 8th FS "Black Sheep", Holloman AFB, 2017

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.

On August 4, 2017 the 8th Fighter Squadron was re-activated after 6 years of inactivation. The ceremony took place at Holloman AFB, New Mexico and the 8th FS will join the 311th and 314th FSs as part of the 54th FG under the control of the 56th FW. There will be more than 40 F-16s based here. These squadron’s duties will be to qualify new and former F-16 pilots. F-16C 88-0454 was completed in late 1989 and spent time with 5 squadrons before being assigned to the 8th FS as their flagship.