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.
Royal Norwegian Air Force (Luftforsvaret) F-16AM 691/FN-K, c/n 6L-10 was received in early 1983 by the 331st skvadron (331 skv) “Lion” located at Bodo. In 2019 the aircraft received a special paint scheme wearing the colors the 331st Squadron Spitfires used during the Normandy invasion. The registration represents Spitfire PL258 FN-K of the 331 (Norwegian) Squadron assigned to the RAF during WWII. PL258 ended its operational life when it belly-landed in December 1944 in the Netherlands. 691/FN-K also marks the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.