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.
Poland purchased 36 F-16C Block 52 and 12 F-16D Block 52 to be delivered between 2006 and 2009. F-16C 03-0047 was the 8th F-16C delivered to the 31st TAB/3rd ELT at Poznan-Krzesiny AB and was assigned serial 4047. In 2019 4047 was given a special paint scheme “Raven” to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Polish Air Force established in 1919 after WW I. The raven was part of the 302nd Squadron insignia in WWII and 132nd FS/3rd Aviation Regiment prior to war.