This is the third book from this series that I've had the pleasure to review. This time it is on one of the most widely used western fighters, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Most who are into the aircraft call it the Viper, thinking that its given name is rather wimpy. The aircraft has been in constant production since 1974 when the prototype made its first flight. Though no longer being developed for the USAF, the type is still selling well to overseas customers.

The F-16 was a winner against the F-17 in a lightweight fighter competition. Thanks to the single engine of the General Dynamics prototype over the twin engine Northrop F-17, it proved to be able to get off the ground faster and reach altitude first, a prime consideration for what was initially designed as a point defense interceptor. Of course, things did not stay the same and the F-16 was eventually developed into what old timers would consider a fighter bomber. Though the F-17 went on to become the F-18, Northrop was the big loser in this as the land plane version of the F-18 failed to sell a single airframe and McDonnell-Douglas built every Hornet to leave the assembly lines.

The F-16 was designed to learn the lessons of the Vietnam war and so was built with a gun as well as the ability to carry missiles and bombs. However, it was not to be the big air to air fighter that GD had hoped, for the F-15 was to fill that role. The F-15 community severely resisted any attempts to put bombs on it and it was not until the Strike Eagle, that the F-15 became a heavyweight bomber, basically replacing the F-111 in that role.

This book follows pretty much the same basic format of all the books in this series. You have a background on why the aircraft was needed as well as a look at the competition. Then it goes into a summary of the various sub-types that were developed as well as variants. A small section on foreign F-16s is also included.

The bulk of the book covers the later production F-16Cs. What are often referred to as the Block 40-42 and Block 50-52, as these are the ones still in service. They are now collectively known as the F-16CM, where as before they were the F-16CG and F-16CJ. Earlier Block 30 F-16Cs are now being converted to drones. Earlier F-16A/B aircraft have been retired with several of them being refurbished and sold overseas. Included in this are the dedicated air defense F-16A/B ADFs, which served in the ANG until the mid 2000's, though most were withdrawn before that.

Next is a section on the F-16CM in combat followed by a look at the various systems, the two engines used in the aircraft, what it was like to fly it and a peek at what it is like to maintain the aircraft. All of this takes up half of the book and includes various drawings and diagrams. There is an appendix that has a production list and a long list of abbreviations as, like most books on modern jets, there is a ton of jargon in the book that may well confuse the uninitiated.

The book is profusely illustrated, mostly with images from the USAF. Systems drawings are superbly done and in full color. Overall it makes for an excellent read and a book that no die-hard F-16 fan should be without.

April 2014

My thanks to the Hachette Book Group for the review copy. Visit them at www.hachettebookgroup.com for other interesting titles.

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