General Dynamics F-16B Block 1 Fighting Falcon
General Dynamics / Fokker / SABCA · United States · first flew 1977 · fighter
Variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon — family overview.
The F-16B Block 1 is the two-seat combat-capable trainer version of the early-production Fighting Falcon, built alongside the single-seat F-16A Block 1 for the USAF and initial NATO customers. It retains full combat capability with only a slight reduction in internal fuel.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stretched fuselage with tandem cockpit, same combat capability as single-seater |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat F-16 trainer, Block 1 early production standard
- Stretched fuselage with tandem cockpit, same combat capability as single-seater
- Cranked-arrow blended wing-body with leading-edge strakes
Identical profile to the F-16A Block 1 with the addition of a longer cockpit section housing tandem seats under a continuous bubble canopy; the blended wing-body, single ventral fin, and tapered wing identify any early F-16.
Specifications
- The General Dynamics F-16B Block 1 Fighting Falcon has a length of 15.03 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.45 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2120 km/h (1317 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The F-16B two-seater was developed concurrently with the F-16A to provide a dual-control conversion trainer that did not sacrifice combat capability. Block 1 aircraft were among the first F-16s delivered to the USAF and to Belgium and the Netherlands in 1979. The Block 1 standard is characterised by the early avionics fit and black radome.
Variants
Block 1 is the initial production standard; successive blocks (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70, 72) incorporate progressive avionics and engine upgrades. The B suffix always denotes the two-seat variant.
Where you'll see it
Operated initially by USAF, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway; many early Block 1 aircraft were upgraded to later block standards or transferred to other operators.
Related aircraft
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- SABCA F-16 Block 10B Fighting Falcon
- General Dynamics F-16A Block 10 Fighting Falcon
- SABCA F-16A Block 10A Fighting Falcon
- General Dynamics F-16A Block 5 Fighting Falcon
- General Dynamics F-16B Block 5 Fighting Falcon
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Block 50/52)
- KF-16 Fighting Falcon
- CASA C-101 Aviojet
- Lockheed Have Blue
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