Hobby Master 1/72 HA3875 Lockheed F-16C Block 52 10806, No.5 Sqn. “Falcons”, Pakistani AF, 2017

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.

On November 20, 2010 Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52+ 07-0004 MSN JE-4 was one of six F- 16C Block 52+ delivered to the Pakistan Air Force No. 5 Squadron “Falcons” and assigned serial 10904. In total Pakistan received twelve C variants and six D variants of the F-16 between June 2010 and February 2012. The No. 5 Squadron is Pakistan’s second oldest squadron and was formed on August 15, 1947. No. 5 Squadron is Pakistan’s only F-16 squadron and is located at Shahbaz Air Base.