View Full Version : End of the F16?
msbbarratt
20th Mar 2016, 09:01
There's an article over on Flight Global about the F16 production line drawing to a close:
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheeds-long-running-f-16-line-in-fort-worth-goin-423293/
It strikes me that losing the capability to manufacture such a useful aircraft in large numbers isn't exactly a good idea. I know that there's 'replacements' like F35 slowly coming along, but they're never going to be affordable in quantity like F16s are.
Sometimes you just need a lot of something that get jobs done. F16 fits in this category, so does B52, A10, Harrier?, Hercules, etc.
For example, I noticed that when the USA started getting involved in counter-ISIS airstrikes they sent along one of everything (F22 dropping bomblets on ISIS? Why's that platform necessary for that job?!). But from what I hear it's the large number of F16s that were doing the vast volume of the work, and probably a bunch of F18s too.
Thoughts, ladies and gentlemen?
Wander00
20th Mar 2016, 10:08
Best get our order in then..........
hat, coat, black Omega outside.............
DITYIWAHP
20th Mar 2016, 10:40
They were only being built for foreign sales. If you're going to try to sell an ice-cream van to your customers for the school run, better not have a small hatchback on your forecourts at the same time.
Courtney Mil
20th Mar 2016, 10:52
Most mums that do the school run don't really want to buy an ice-cream van. Quite a few want a 4x4, though.
DITYIWAHP
20th Mar 2016, 11:22
lol - yes - 4x4 with a satnav...
Buster Hyman
20th Mar 2016, 12:36
Most of the school Mums I've seen have had a healthy go at the Ice Cream trucks!
LowObservable
20th Mar 2016, 12:49
... so the penguin said, "Oh no, it's only ice cream".
Heathrow Harry
20th Mar 2016, 16:59
it will be the end of the line when the Argentineans are looking to buy some......
glad rag
20th Mar 2016, 17:09
whew that was close, thought it was the other F16 demise story...
DirtyProp
20th Mar 2016, 20:19
Most mums that do the school run don't really want to buy an ice-cream van. Quite a few want a 4x4, though.
And they can't drive that either.
:cool:
gr4techie
21st Mar 2016, 16:40
Most of the school Mums I've seen have had a healthy go at the Ice Cream trucks!
What you need is low observable Ice Cream Trucks that can go silent.
I noticed that when the USA started getting involved in counter-ISIS airstrikes they sent along one of everything (F22 dropping bomblets on ISIS? Why's that platform necessary for that job?!)Keep in mind the F-22 is also an electron vacuum cleaner. The F-22 was used to get a good handle on the electronic order of battle in the region, which includes Turkish and Syrian ground radar systems, and Russian ground and ship borne radar systems. It was not just about bomblets.
rlsbutler
22nd Mar 2016, 20:15
They have recently been using two OV-10 Broncos. Putting a little bit of everything into the cooking pot.
Not to worry. Lockmart has a very good marketing department and will no doubt sell a few more airframes to keep the line open, even if they have to bribe someone silly to do so (cf. F-104, L-1011, ...).
glad rag
24th Mar 2016, 03:53
Keep in mind the F-22 is also an electron vacuum cleaner. The F-22 was used to get a good handle on the electronic order of battle in the region, which includes Turkish and Syrian ground radar systems, and Russian ground and ship borne radar systems. It was not just about bomblets.
Indeed, only outclassed by those pesky Frogs!!
2805662
24th Mar 2016, 08:46
Not to worry. Lockmart has a very good marketing department and will no doubt sell a few more airframes to keep the line open, even if they have to bribe someone silly to do so (cf. F-104, L-1011, ...).
Unlike, say BAe or its forerunners (Lighting, Typhoon....)
BEagle
24th Mar 2016, 08:57
Unlike, say BAe or its forerunners (Lighting, Typhoon....)
At least Lockheed's bribery was exposed, whereas the odious Bliar quashed the SFO inquiry into allegations of the BWoS slush fund....
Biggus
24th Mar 2016, 09:05
BEagle,
Wasn't that because he was leaned on by the Saudis (not that I'm defending him!)?
Tourist
24th Mar 2016, 11:16
Does anybody on here honestly think that anything is sold to anybody in the middle east, Africa and many other parts of the world without backhanders?
I think people need to grow up a bit/a lot.
If you want to be an international conglomerate, you oil the wheels. People may have got better at hiding it, but it is there and always will be. The only difference between a bribe and commission is timing.
Countries need their arms manufacturing base, and they need foreign sales. They also need the soft power the sales bring.
I'm a firm believer that inside our own countries we should do everything in our power to stamp out corruption, but when in Rome......
Pursuing a corruption case against your only powerful Arms manufacturer which would also alienate the biggest buyer in the world of our goods whilst driving your defence infrastructure out of business is moronic.
Why not just shoot yourself in the foot?
2805662
24th Mar 2016, 11:26
My comment was directed at the inference that LockMart were seemingly alone in the whole bribes to sell aircraft gig.