F-16 Fighting Falcon in Action

Author Lou Drendel is back with an updated look at the F-16. You may recall that there was a previous F-16 Fighting Falcon in Action which was the 53rd title in the 'In Action' series. In that installment, the F-16C/D was in its early stages and the F-16A/B was the primary series.

Since that time, the F-16A/B is all but retired from USAF/ANG/USAFR service, and overseas operators of the 'Viper' have updated their aircraft. The author has returned to update the story.

We start off with a review of the early F-16A/B versions including a closer look at the F-16A Air Defense Fighter (ADF) version. From there, we jump into the differences between F-16C versions, F-16C/D Block 25/30/32, F-16CG/DG Block 40/42, F-16CJ/DJ Block 50/52, and into the F-16E/F Block 60. There are a number of nice photos of non-US Vipers and close-ups of some of the more significant differences including the parabrake housing, dorsal spine on the Israeli and Singapore F-16Ds, and the updated F-16AMs.

The author also takes a brief look at F-16 derivatives including the Japanese F-2A/B, Taiwanese Ching Kuo, and the South Korean T-50/A-50.

Coverage ends with a look back at the early experimental airframes and prototype Vipers that started things off.

The standard 'In Action' centerfold has a nice selection of colorful Vipers including 'Dirty Diana' of the RNAF, a 20th Anniversary scheme on a FAV F-16B, an Illinois ANG F-16A ADF, an Israeli Block 30, a Greek Block 50, a Singapore F-16D Block 52 (w/dorsal spine), and a commemorative Block 32 from Luke AFB painted in Tuskegee 302 FS P-51D colors.

This is a great reference for the modeler and aviation historian alike.

My sincere thanks to Squadron/Signal Publications for this review sample!