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Simulating a Bombing Raid in an F-16

The historic 1981 Israeli operation took out Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor.

The F-16 is known as a fighter pilot's fighter. [Courtesy: Patrick Chovanec]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Conceived by the "Fighter Mafia" in the 1970s, the F-16 was designed as an agile, lightweight, and cost-effective fighter, pioneering fly-by-wire technology and pilot-centric ergonomics for enhanced maneuverability.
  • The F-16 earned its combat spurs with the daring 1981 Israeli Osirak reactor raid, successfully executing a long-range, low-altitude precision strike that pushed the aircraft to its operational limits.
  • Widely adopted by the U.S. Air Force for diverse roles and by 24 other nations, the F-16, nicknamed "Viper," has proven its versatility as a multi-role fighter in numerous conflicts and defense scenarios worldwide.
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Today in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I’ll be checking out the F-16. And to get things rolling, I’ll be flying one of its most historic missions: the 1981 Israeli bombing raid to take out Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor.

Originally produced by General Dynamics, which has since sold its aircraft business to Lockheed Martin, the F-16 came about in the early 1970s in response to the shortcomings of the F-4 Phantom, which saw murderous attrition rates in the skies over Vietnam, and the introduction of new, more advanced Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25.

Patrick Chovanec

Patrick Chovanec works as an economist in New York City, and has taught as a professor at China's Tsinghua University and at Columbia University. He is a private pilot, and author of the recently released book ""Cleared for the Option: A Year Learning to Fly.""

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