| Date of Review |
July 2005 |
| Title |
F-16 Fighting Falcon in Action |
| Author |
Lou Drendel |
| Publisher |
Squadron/Signal Publications |
| Published |
2005 |
| ISBN |
0-89747-490-2 |
| Format |
50 pages, softbound |
| MSRP (USD) |
$9.95 |
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!
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