All language subtitles for air.warriors.s04e01.f-16.internal.720p.web.h264-underbelly[eztv]

[ENGINES ROAR]

Narrator:
PILOTS CALL IT "THE VIPER."

IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE, IT BITES.

Man: THE F-16 CAN CARRY
EVERY AIR-TO-GROUND WEAPON

THAT THE UNITED STATES
AIR FORCE EMPLOYS.

Narrator: SMALL, FAST,

AND AGILE ENOUGH
TO TURN ON A DIME.

Man: THE F-16'S A GREAT AIRPLANE
WHEN YOU'RE BEING SHOT AT.

Narrator: THE F-16
IS BUILT TO GET IN YOUR FACE

BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.

Woman: EVERYTHING ABOUT THE F-16

WAS DESIGNED FOR A HARD-CHARGING
MANEUVERING DOGFIGHT.

Narrator: IT'S AN AIRCRAFT
THAT'S BEEN FIGHTING

SINCE BEFORE IT WAS BORN.

Man: THE AIR FORCE ATTITUDE WAS,

WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING
WITH THIS AIRPLANE.

Narrator: ITS GOAL...

BECOMING THE BEST MULTI-ROLE
FIGHTER ON THE PLANET.

[APPLAUSE]

2003.

THE UNITED STATES ACCUSES
IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

OF STOCKPILING WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

George Bush: THE DICTATOR
OF IRAQ IS NOT DISARMING.

TO THE CONTRARY.

HE IS DECEIVING.

Narrator: IN MARCH,

THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES
SURPRISE IRAQ

WITH A PUNISHING AIR WAR.

U.S. BOMBERS DROP
OVER 10,000 TONS OF ORDNANCE

INTO BAGHDAD.

THEY CALL THE CAMPAIGN
"SHOCK AND AWE."

Donald Rumsfeld: WE'VE GOT
TOTAL DOMINANCE OF THE AIR.

IT IS NOT AIR SUPERIORITY.

IT'S DOMINANCE.

[EXPLOSIONS]

[YELLING]

[GUNFIRE]

Narrator: THE AFTERMATH
DOES NOT GO SMOOTHLY.

IRAQIS DIG IN...

HARD.

Man: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

THAT ARE NOT YET STABILIZED.

Narrator: COALITION TROOPS
PATROL THE LAND.

TO KEEP WATCH OVERHEAD,

THEY RELY ON SUPPORT
FROM THE AIR,

ESPECIALLY THE F-16.

THE F-16.

SMALL IN SIZE,

BIG IN VERSATILITY.

IT'S THE UNDISPUTED KING
OF THE MULTI-ROLE FIGHTERS.

Kris: THE PLANE BEHIND ME

IS THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON

THAT WE COMMONLY REFER TO
AS THE VIPER.

THE STRIKING SNAKE-LIKE FEATURES
OF A VIPER SNAKE

ARE PRETTY APPROPRIATE
TO THIS AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: 49 FEET LONG
WITH A 30-FOOT WINGSPAN,

THE F-16 IS THE LIGHTEST FIGHTER
IN THE AIR FORCE INVENTORY.

ITS TAKEOFF WEIGHT
IS JUST OVER 20,000 POUNDS.

THAT'S LESS THAN HALF THE WEIGHT
OF THE F-15.

Kris: THE FACT THAT IT'S
A SINGLE-MOTOR AIRCRAFT

AND JUST A SMALLER
AIRCRAFT IN GENERAL

IS THE BIGGEST THING

THAT ATTRIBUTES
TO THE LIGHTER WEIGHT.

Narrator:
WHAT IT'S MISSING IN SIZE

THE F-16 MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR
IN PERSONALITY.

IT CAN TURN...

BURN...

AND LEAVE YOU IN THE DUST

BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.

Kris: MORE OFTEN THAN NOT

IT'S NOT JUST A STRAIGHT LINE
THAT WE'RE FLYING.

WE'LL USE THE VERTICAL
DOING LOOPS AND SPLIT S's

TO TRY AND DEFEND OURSELVES

AND HOPEFULLY WIN THE ENGAGEMENT
AND GET BACK HOME SAFELY.

Narrator:
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

TEN DAYS INTO THE WAR.

TWO F-16s CRUISE 10,000 FEET

ABOVE THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF IRAQ.

Edward Linch:
OUR MISSION THAT NIGHT

WAS SEARCHING
FOR SCUD MISSILES IN IRAQ.

Narrator:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWARD LINCH

SERVED THREE TOURS
AS AN F-16 PILOT

IN COMBAT OPERATIONS
AGAINST IRAQ.

Linch: YOU'RE GOING ON
SIX-TO EIGHT-HOUR MISSIONS

AND JUST LOOKING AROUND
AT THINGS ON THE GROUND.

IT'S LIKE, ARE WE EVER
GOING TO SEE ANY ACTION?

Narrator:
NOT LONG INTO THEIR MISSION

LINCH AND HIS WINGMAN GET A CALL

THAT THREATENS TO TEST
THE LIMITS OF MAN AND MACHINE.

Linch: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE RADIOS CAME ALIVE,

DIRECTING US TO SOME COORDINATES
THAT WERE NORTH OF US.

THEY WANTED US THERE FAST,

SO I PUT THE COORDINATES IN,
PUSHED UP THE POWER,

AND WE FLEW AS FAST AS WE COULD.

Narrator: TEN MINUTES LATER,

LINCH AND HIS WINGMAN
CIRCLE ABOVE A CHAOTIC SCENE.

[GUNFIRE]

30,000 FEET BELOW,
500 IRAQI TROOPS SURROUND

52 BRITISH
SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIERS.

Linch: WHEN WE GOT
OVERHEAD THEIR POSITION,

WE HEARD THEM ON THE RADIO.

Man on radio:
[INDISTINCT]

WE HAVE GOT THEM
TOTALLY AROUND US!

Linch: YOU'VE GOT THIS GUY
WHO'S LIKE,

"I'M DYING,
I NEED YOUR HELP NOW."

[GUNFIRE]

Man on radio:
THE ENEMY NOW IS AROUND US.

THEY HAVE TURNED OUT
ALL THE LIGHTS.

WE NEED YOUR HELP, OKAY?

Linch: SPECIAL OPS GUYS

ARE THE GUYS WITH TATTOOS
AND DAGGERS ON THEIR LEGS,

AND THEY DON'T CALL
FOR HELP LIKE THAT

UNLESS IT'S REALLY BAD.

Narrator: THE SOLDIERS
HAVE ONE REQUEST:

GET THE BOMBS IN NOW.

THE VIPERS ASK
IF THE GROUND TROOPS

HAVE AN INFRARED STROBE.

THEY NEED TO GET A READ
ON THE TROOPS' LOCATION.

Linch: OKAY,
TURN YOUR STROBE ON NOW.

STROBE ON NOW.

WE WERE WEARING
NIGHT-VISION GOGGLES

WHICH REQUIRE ILLUMINATION
FROM SOME LIGHT SOURCE,

AND THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MOON,
THERE WAS NO STARS

AND THERE'S NOTHING
ON THE GROUND VISIBLE,

SO I WASN'T GOING TO BE
ABLE TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE THEM

LONG ENOUGH
IN ORDER TO DROP A BOMB.

Narrator: LINCH GIVES
THE TROOPS THE BAD NEWS:

BOMBS AREN'T GOING TO WORK.

Linch: I HAVE NO STROBE.

I HAVE NO STROBE.

I CAN'T HELP YOU
IF I CAN'T SEE YOU.

AND IT'S FRUSTRATING

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T
DO SOMETHING,

THEY'RE GOING TO DIE.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP
WITH YOUR OWN TACTICS.

Narrator: LINCH AND HIS WINGMAN
KNOW THINGS ON THE GROUND

ARE QUICKLY GETTING WORSE.

Man on radio:
WE'RE NOW ON FOOT!

WE'RE NOW ON FOOT!

Narrator: SO THEY COME UP
WITH AN UNUSUAL PLAN...

ONE THAT RELIES ON THE POWER
OF THE F-16'S ENGINE.

MOST FIGHTERS HAVE TWO ENGINES.

THE F-16 ONLY NEEDS ONE.

Smith:
THIS IS THE F110 GE ENGINE

FOUND IN THE F-16 FLYING FALCON.

IT GIVES US THE ABILITY
TO TAKE THE F-16 TO A FIGHT

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

Narrator: THE ENGINE'S POWER
COMES FROM ITS AFTERBURNER,

LOCATED ON THE F-16'S TAIL.

IT PRODUCES ALMOST
30,000 POUNDS OF THRUST...

ENOUGH FORCE
TO LET THE VIPER FLY

AT TWICE THE SPEED OF SOUND.

WHEN THE AFTERBURNER KICKS IN,
THERE'S NO MISTAKING.

Linch: WHEN YOU GO
INTO AFTERBURNER,

IT MAKES LIKE
AN EXPLODING KIND OF SOUND.

[ROARING]

Narrator: IF THE F-16
FLIES FAST ENOUGH,

IT CREATES A SUPERSONIC BOOM.

[BOOM]

A SOUND THAT LINCH
PLANS TO USE AS A WEAPON.

AS THE F-16 FLIES,
IT PRODUCES SOUND WAVES.

AS THE PLANE TRAVELS
FASTER AND FASTER,

THESE WAVES CAN'T GET OUT
OF EACH OTHER'S WAY.

WHEN THE F-16
BREAKS THE SPEED OF SOUND,

THE SOUND WAVES BECOME
ONE GIANT SHOCK WAVE.

[BOOM]

A SONIC BOOM.

IF THE PILOT PULLS UP SHARPLY
FROM A STEEP DESCENT,

HE CAN MAKE THAT BOOM SOUND
LIKE IT HITS THE GROUND.

Linch: IT MAKES NOISE.

I MEAN, THE NOISE INCREASE
IS TREMENDOUS.

TWO F-16s IN AFTERBURNER

AT 3,000 OR 4,000 FEET
ABOVE THE GROUND

WILL SCARE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

Narrator: IN IRAQ,

THAT NOISE IS EXACTLY
WHAT LINCH IS COUNTING ON.

Linch: I WAS HOPING
THE IRAQIS WOULD THINK

IT IS A WEAPON COMING DOWN,

AND THEN THAT
WOULD ALLOW THE CHANCE

FOR THE TROOPS TO ESCAPE.

Narrator: IT'S A BRILLIANT PLAN,

BUT DANGEROUS.

LINCH MUST PULL UP
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME,

OR CRASH INTO THE GROUND.

Linch: WE'RE OVER
500 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF ROOM FOR ERROR,

BUT IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS

YOU HAVE TO JUST TAKE EVERYTHING
IN YOUR 20 YEARS OF FLYING

AND PUT IT INTO THIS ONE ATTACK.

Narrator:
THE OTHER CHALLENGE...

IRAQI TROOPS HAVE ENOUGH
ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY

AND SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

TO KNOCK LINCH'S F-16
RIGHT OUT OF THE SKY.

Linch: I NEED TO
KEEP MY SPEED UP

IN CASE I NEED TO REACT
TO A SAM MISSILE OR TRIPLE-A.

MY PRIMARY EMPHASIS
WAS BEING ABLE TO MANEUVER

FROM ANY AIR-TO-GROUND THREAT
THAT MIGHT BE COMING MY WAY.

Narrator:
LINCH COUNTS DOWN TO THE DROP...

THEN BARRELS HIS F-16
FAST BELOW THE CLOUD COVER.

3,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND,
LINCH SUDDENLY PULLS UP.

[BOOM]

THE FORCE OF THE VIPER'S ENGINE
SHAKES THE TROOPS BELOW.

Linch: YOU'RE BREATHING HARD,

YOUR HEART RATE'S UP.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
RUNNING A HUNDRED-YARD DASH

IN THE AIRPLANE.

[BEEPING]

Narrator: LINCH DOESN'T
HAVE TIME TO FIND OUT

IF HIS DIVE BOMB WORKS.

SUDDENLY, AN EAR-PIERCING NOISE
TAKES OVER HIS CABIN.

IT'S THE F-16'S WARNING SYSTEM.

AN IRAQI MISSILE
HAS LOCKED ON TO HIM,

AND IT'S COMING UP FAST.

Linch: NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME
TO WORRY ABOUT MY OWN SELF

TO SURVIVE.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO REACT.

[ENGINE ROARING]

Narrator:
DEEP IN IRAQI AIR SPACE,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWARD LINCH

TRIES TO OUTRUN
A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE

IN HIS F-16.

Linch: I'M IN FULL AFTERBURNER,

SO I'M MAKING
A HECK OF A LOT OF RACKET,

AND NOW I'M ACCELERATING
EXTREMELY FAST,

AND PULLING UP MY NOSE

AND HOPE THAT THE MISSILE
WILL OVERSHOOT.

[BEEPING]

Narrator: FINALLY,
THE F-16'S MISSILE LOCK WARNING

STOPS ITS WHINE.

LINCH'S WILD MANEUVERS
HAVE WORKED.

Linch:
THE MANEUVERABILITY OF THE F-16

ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE
A SAFE ESCAPE.

I KNEW I HAD
THAT CAPABILITY IN THE F-16

TO AVOID A TRIPLE-A,
A SAM ATTACK, OR THE GROUND.

Narrator: LINCH'S NEXT CONCERN:

THE TROOPS.

HE CALLS DOWN TO FIND OUT
IF HIS RUSE WORKED.

Linch: THE SOUND OF
THOSE ENGINES IN AFTERBURNER

ALLOWED THE SPECIAL OPS TROOPS
TO ESCAPE.

IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT

THAT I'D BEEN PART OF SOMETHING
TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED.

Narrator:
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME

TROOPS HAVE LOOKED TO THE F-16.

IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,

THE U.S. AIR FORCE
RELIES ON THE VIPER

FOR A WHOPPING 33% OF ITS
CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSIONS.

Linch: CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

TYPICALLY WAS NOT
OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

[ENGINE ROARING]

[BOOM]

BUT THE F-16 HAS PROVEN
THAT IT HAS THE ABILITY TO DO SO

IN ALL ASPECTS
OF CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

Narrator:
IT'S A SURPRISING MISSION

FOR A PLANE THAT WAS BUILT
FOR A SPECIALIZED PURPOSE:

DOGFIGHTING.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

[EXPLOSION]

1965.

SOUTH VIETNAM.

COMMUNIST VIETCONG
MOUNT STINGING ATTACKS

AGAINST AMERICAN FORCES.

Reporter: THIS IS PLEIKU,

THE AIR BASE THAT WAS RIPPED BY
VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS.

EIGHT AMERICANS
DIED IN THE ATTACK.

Narrator: A LOW-LEVEL CONFLICT

BETWEEN THE U.S.
AND NORTH VIETNAM

HAS BEEN SIMMERING FOR YEARS.

PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON
IS READY FOR THINGS TO ESCALATE.

Lyndon Johnson:
IF AMERICAN LIVES MUST END

AND AMERICAN TREASURE
BE SPILLED,

THEN THAT IS THE PRICE

THAT CHANGE HAS DEMANDED
OF CONVICTION.

Narrator: THE U.S. AIR FORCE
SENDS ITS JETS,

EXPECTING TO MAKE QUICK WORK

OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
AIR FORCE.

THEY'RE IN FOR A RUDE SURPRISE.

Rebecca Grant:
STARTING IN THE 1950s,

THE AIR FORCE PUT ITS MONEY

INTO A STRING OF
SUPERSONIC JET FIGHTERS

THAT WERE DESIGNED
TO CHASE DOWN SOVIET BOMBERS.

Narrator:
AUTHOR DR. REBECCA GRANT

IS ONE OF THE FOREMOST
CIVILIAN EXPERTS

ON AIR FORCE HISTORY
AND AIRCRAFT.

Grant: WHEN THE AIR FORCE
GOT TO VIETNAM,

THEY FOUND THAT
MANY OF THOSE FIGHTERS

DIDN'T HAVE THE AGILITY
AND MANEUVERABILITY

TO MATCH UP AGAINST
NORTH VIETNAM'S MIGs.

Narrator:
THE AIR FORCE'S MAIN ENEMY

IS THE SOVIET-MADE MIG:

SMALL, CHEAP,
AND BLAZINGLY FAST.

IN 1968 ALONE, THEY TAKE OUT
22 U.S. AIR FORCE PLANES.

Grant: THE MIGs
COULD TURN ON A DIME.

THEIR MANEUVERABILITY
WAS ASTONISHING,

AND SOME OF THE HEAVIER
U.S. AIR FORCE FIGHTERS

DIDN'T HAVE THE AGILITY TO TURN
AND FIGHT WITH THOSE MIGs.

IN WORLD WAR II AND IN KOREA,

THE AIR FORCE
ALWAYS HAD THE UPPER HAND,

BUT IN VIETNAM,
THE AIR FORCE FOUND

THAT IT WAS LOSING ITS EDGE
IN DOGFIGHTING.

AND TO CHANGE THAT,
THEY HAD TO BUILD NEW FIGHTERS.

Narrator: THE AIR FORCE RACES
TO COME UP WITH A FIGHTER

THAT CAN HOLD ITS OWN
AGAINST THE MIGs.

IN 1972,
THEY DEBUT THEIR SOLUTION:

THE F-15 EAGLE.

NOT EVERYONE AGREES
IT'S THE BEST PLANE FOR THE JOB.

Pierre Sprey:
THE F-15 STARTED OUT

AS AN AIR-TO-AIR
ORIENTED FIGHTER.

THE AIRPLANE IT GREW INTO
WAS QUITE FAR FROM THAT.

Narrator: PIERRE SPREY
WAS A DEFENSE ANALYST

AND LEAD ENGINEER
FOR THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON.

Sprey:
EXTRA FEATURES WERE ADDED,

AND THE F-15 GREW BY 5 TONS.

THE AIR FORCE HAD TAKEN
WHAT WAS A BRILLIANT AIRPLANE

AND THEY HAD TURNED IT
INTO A BIGGER AIRPLANE.

IT WAS NO LONGER A SUPERB,
PURE AIR-TO-AIR FIGHTER.

Narrator: ANOTHER FLAW...

EACH F-15 COSTS $15 MILLION.

THE AIR FORCE
CAN'T AFFORD ENOUGH OF THEM

TO FACE DOWN THE MIGs.

Sprey: IT WAS CLEAR
THAT THE UNITED STATES NEEDED

A GREAT, DOMINANT
AIR-TO-AIR FIGHTER.

THAT WAS CLEAR
BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

Narrator: ENTER
AIR FORCE COLONEL JOHN BOYD,

LEADING A TEAM HE CALLS
"THE FIGHTER MAFIA."

THEY'RE DETERMINED TO BUILD
THE ULTIMATE DOGFIGHTER.

Sprey: THE REAL GOAL
OF THE FIGHTER MAFIA

WAS TO CREATE AN AIRPLANE
THAT WAS HOTTER THAN THE F-15,

HALF THE SIZE, HALF THE COST,

AND WAY BETTER THAN
ANY FIGHTER IN THE WORLD.

Narrator: BOYD AND HIS TEAM
HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

AIR FORCE DOCTRINE
SAYS BIGGER IS BETTER.

Sprey: I REMEMBER
AN AIR FORCE COLONEL

WORKING IN THE R&D SECTION

WHO KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING,

AND HE SAID, "PIERRE, THAT
LITTLE PAPER AIRPLANE OF YOURS

WILL NEVER FLY."

Narrator: IN 1971,

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
DAVID PACKARD

FINALLY PUSHES
THE PROGRAM THROUGH.

THE AIR FORCE WANTS MORE F-15s,

BUT IT WILL TAKE
WHAT IT CAN GET.

Sprey: THEY STILL WEREN'T HAPPY

ABOUT GETTING A SMALL,
INEXPENSIVE AIRPLANE.

BUT OF COURSE, IF THEY WERE
AS EXPENSIVE AS THE F-15,

THERE WAS NO WAY YOU COULD GET
THAT BUDGET OUT OF THE CONGRESS.

Narrator: 1972.

THE PENTAGON PUTS OUT
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

FIVE COMPANIES SUBMIT DESIGNS.

AIR FORCE BRASS WHITTLE
THE APPLICANTS DOWN TO TWO:

THE YF-16,

BUILT BY GENERAL DYNAMICS;

AND THE YF-17,

BUILT BY NORTHROP.

THE AIR FORCE COMMISSIONS
A PROTOTYPE OF EACH.

A FLY-OFF WILL
DETERMINE THE WINNER.

Grant: THE AIR FORCE HAD PICKED
THE F-15 FROM A PAPER DESIGN.

WITH THE F-16 THEY DECIDED
TO USE FLYING PROTOTYPES,

THE YF-16 AND THE YF-17,

TO SEE WHICH WOULD BE
THE MOST SUITABLE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE TWO COMPANIES
QUICKLY GET TO WORK.

BUT THE AIR FORCE
ISN'T MAKING ANY PROMISES.

Sprey:
THE AIR FORCE ATTITUDE WAS,

THIS IS NICE,

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOVELY,
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

IN A FLY-OFF,

AND THEN WE'LL PUT
ALL THAT ON THE SHELF.

THE F-15 WAS STILL THE APPLE
OF THE AIR FORCE'S EYE.

Narrator: 1974.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT,
THE YF-16 ROLLS ONTO THE RUNWAY.

Grant: THE F-16
WAS A VISUAL SHOCKER.

THIS WAS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM THE SNUB-NOSED MIGs

AND THOSE HEAVY JETS.

THE F-16 WAS
A NEW BREED OF FIGHTER.

Narrator:
THE F-16 IS THE FIRST FIGHTER

DESIGNED WITH
NEGATIVE STABILITY.

IT'S MADE TO BE
INHERENTLY UNSTABLE.

Matthew Ayres: THAT SOUNDS
A LITTLE BIT COUNTERINTUITIVE,

BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS

THE AIRCRAFT HAS
A VERY RESPONSIVE

FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

THE JET IS ONE OF
THE BEST TURNING FIGHTERS

THAT'S EVER BEEN DESIGNED.

Narrator: THE F-16 TURNS SO FAST

THAT PILOTS CALL IT
"A RATE MACHINE,"

MAINTAINING A VERY HIGH RATE
OF DEGREES TURNED PER SECOND.

THESE HIGH-SPEED TURNS
DEFY THE FORCE OF GRAVITY.

Grant: THE F-16 WAS DESIGNED
TO WITHSTAND 9 Gs,

NINE TIMES THE FORCE OF GRAVITY.

THAT'S STILL
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF Gs

THE AIR FORCE
DESIGNS ITS FIGHTERS FOR.

Narrator: OTHER FIRSTS...

FLY-BY-WIRE,

SEATS DESIGNED
FOR G-FORCE TOLERANCE,

AND A FRAMELESS BUBBLE CANOPY.

Ayres: IT HAS GREAT VISIBILITY,

AND THE ABILITY TO SEE
YOUR TARGET ACCURATELY

REALLY HELPS THE PILOT
ACQUIRE THE ENEMY AIRCRAFT...

AS WELL AS THE TARGETS
ON THE GROUND.

Grant:
EVERYTHING ABOUT THE F-16

WAS DESIGNED
FOR THE FIGHTER PILOT

ABOUT TO ENTER A HARD-CHARGING
MANEUVERING DOGFIGHT.

Narrator: BUT BEFORE
THE F-16 CAN DOGFIGHT,

IT WILL HAVE TO PROVE IT CAN
SAFELY GET OFF THE GROUND.

AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,

THE YF-16 PROTOTYPE
GETS READY TO SHOW ITS STUFF.

Sprey: THE SENIOR TEST PILOT
FOR GENERAL DYNAMICS

WAS SLATED TO TAKE
THIS AIRPLANE OUT

FOR HIGH-SPEED TAXI RUNS

AND MAYBE TEST
THE CONTROLS A LITTLE

ON HOW THEY HANDLED.

Grant: THE F-16 TAXIED DOWN
THE RUNWAY AT HIGH SPEED.

THEN THE NOSE CAME UP.

Sprey: THE AIRPLANE
STARTED TO VEER QUITE WILDLY

AND ACTUALLY HIT THE MISSILE
ON ONE WING TIP

AND HIT THE RIGHT TAIL
QUITE HARD ON THE GROUND.

Grant: IT LOOKED BAD.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE PILOT
WAS IN BIG TROUBLE

AND THAT THAT WAS ABOUT TO BE
THE END OF THE YF-16.

Narrator:
AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,

THE YF-16 PROTOTYPE
FOR THE NEW AIR FORCE FIGHTER

CAREENS OUT OF CONTROL.

THE PILOT HAS JUST
SECONDS TO REACT.

Grant:
THE PILOT HAD GREAT HANDS.

HE WAS ABLE
TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT

BACK AROUND FOR A SMOOTH LANDING

WITHOUT INCIDENT.

THAT TEST PILOT SAVED THE JET.

HE MAY HAVE SAVED
THE WHOLE PROGRAM.

Narrator: ENGINEERS RACE
TO EXAMINE THE AIRCRAFT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

Sprey: THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM
A LOT OF STUFF IN THE ENGINE

SO THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY
HANDLE THIS THING ON THE GROUND

WITHOUT IT
GETTING AWAY FROM YOU.

Narrator: SIX MONTHS LATER,

THE YF-16 MUST FACE DOWN
A FIERCE COMPETITOR:

THE YF-17.

Sprey: THE YF-17 HAD MORE WING
AND A LITTLE LESS ENGINE

FOR ITS WEIGHT.

AND WE KIND OF THOUGHT THE YF-17
WOULD WIN BECAUSE OF THAT.

Narrator: EACH PLANE
IS TESTED TO ITS LIMITS.

THE RESULTS ARE SURPRISING.

John McLucas: THERE WERE
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES

IN THE PERFORMANCE
OF THESE PROTOTYPES.

THE YF-16 HAD MANY ADVANTAGES
IN PERFORMANCE OVER THE YF-17.

Sprey: IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

THE YF-16 HAD CLEARLY
BEATEN THE YF-17,

AND IT WAS A MAJOR SURPRISE
OF MAJOR CONSEQUENCE.

Narrator:
DEFENSE SECRETARY JOHN McLUCAS

ANNOUNCES PLANS TO PROCURE
650 OF THE NEW AIRCRAFT.

THE AIR FORCE SENDS THE YF-16
INTO PRODUCTION.

IT COMES OUT
THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON,

A RADICALLY DIFFERENT PLANE.

Sprey: THEY ADDED
ALL THESE BOMB RACKS,

THEY EXPANDED THE NOSE,

LENGTHENED THE FUSELAGE A FOOT

TO PUT IN MORE
ELECTRONICS AND STUFF.

THEY MORE THAN DOUBLED
THE PRICE OF THE AIRPLANE,

AND THEY ADDED 2 TONS OF WEIGHT.

WE HAD HONED THE F-16

TO BE A PURE,
BRILLIANT, WORLD-DOMINANT

AIR-TO-AIR DOGFIGHTER.

IT DIDN'T NEED
ANY EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT.

Narrator: THE MODIFIED PLANE

HAS TO PROVE JUST HOW LETHAL
IT REALLY IS.

IT GETS ITS CHANCE
IN A MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE.

1981, IRAQ.

TEN MILES SOUTH OF BAGHDAD,

FRENCH AND IRAQI ENGINEERS
BUILD A NUCLEAR REACTOR.

THEY CALL IT OSIRAK

AFTER OSIRIS,
THE EGYPTIAN GOD OF THE DEAD.

IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN

CLAIMS THE REACTOR
IS FOR RESEARCH.

THE ISRAELIS SUSPECT
A MORE SINISTER PURPOSE:

MAKING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

Sprey: THE ISRAELIS
WERE BOUND AND DETERMINED

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IRAQIS
NEVER MADE ANY KIND OF PROGRESS

IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY.

THEY DECIDED
THAT THEY NEEDED TO BOMB

THE NUCLEAR REACTOR IN IRAQ.

Narrator: THE ISRAELIS TURN TO
THE NEWEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD,

THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON.

JUNE 7th.

SIX F-16s TAKE OFF
FROM ETZION AIR BASE,

CARRYING
TWO 2,000-POUND BOMBS EACH.

IT'S A 600-MILE JOURNEY
TO THE DROP POINT.

Pilot: AH... THE DROP.

Grant: THE F-16 FLEW
AT EXTREMELY LOW ALTITUDE,

150 TO 300 FEET.

THIS KEPT THE F-16s
UNDERNEATH THE RADAR COVERAGE.

Narrator:
12 1/2 MILES FROM OSIRAK,

THE F-16s LIGHT UP
THEIR AFTERBURNERS.

THEY POP UP TO 3,000 FEET...

AND RELEASE THEIR BOMBS.

[RADIO CHATTER]

[BEEPING]

Sprey: IT CAME OFF BRILLIANTLY.

THEY GOT SIX
OUT OF THE EIGHT BOMBS

WITHIN THE DOME OF THE REACTOR,

WHICH IS EXTRAORDINARY.

Narrator: THE RAID MAKES
HEADLINES AROUND THE WORLD.

Dan Rather: GOOD EVENING.

THE AFTERSHOCK
IS BEGINNING TO MOUNT

IN THE WAKE OF ISRAEL BOMBING
A NUCLEAR PLANT IN IRAQ.

Grant: IT WAS SUCH
A BOLD, AUDACIOUS ATTACK,

AND THERE, RIGHT IN
THE MIDDLE OF IT, WAS THE F-16

ACTUALLY DOING
THE BOMB-DROPPING.

Narrator: IN THE UNITED STATES,

PILOTS TAKE NOTE
OF THE VIPER'S PERFORMANCE.

THEY TRAIN HARD TO EARN A SEAT
IN THE COVETED PLANE.

Ayres: TRAINING
IN THE F-16 IS IMPORTANT

BECAUSE THE BEST WEAPON SYSTEM
IN THE F-16 IS THE PILOT.

BEING ABLE TO
INTERPRET THE SENSORS

AND UNDERSTANDING A DYNAMIC
ENVIRONMENT IN THE AIR

IS VERY CHALLENGING.

Narrator: IT TAKES THREE YEARS
TO BECOME AN F-16 PILOT.

ONLY THE BEST MAKE THE CUT.

Linch: YOU BECOME ONE
WITH THE AIRPLANE.

IT'S NOT YOU
STRAPPING IN AN AIRPLANE,

YOU STRAP ON AN F-16,

AND IT'LL GO
WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO.

Narrator: WHERE AMERICAN
VIPER PILOTS WANT TO GO

IS WHERE THE ACTION IS.

THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT TEN YEARS
TO TEST THEIR SKILLS IN BATTLE.

JANUARY 1991.

AIRCRAFT FROM 13 COUNTRIES
GATHER IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
SENDS OVER 400 FIGHTERS.

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM
ARE F-16s.

VIPER PILOTS KNOW THEY FACE
A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.

Stephen Mueller:
BAGHDAD WAS KNOWN

AS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY
DEFENDED CITIES IN THE WORLD.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT GENERAL
STEPHEN MUELLER

WAS AN F-16 FLIGHT COMMANDER
IN OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Mueller: WE WERE ESSENTIALLY
GOING TO GO INTO THE MIDDLE

OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED
BY EVERYBODY AT THE TIME

AS THE DENSEST THREAT
ENVIRONMENT ON THE PLANET.

Narrator: AFTER OSIRAK,

IRAQI GENERALS INVEST HEAVILY
IN THEIR AIR DEFENSES.

THEY'RE DETERMINED NOT TO LET
THE F-16 BEAT THEM AGAIN.

THE VIPERS WILL BE MEETING
A WELL-ARMED ENEMY,

WITH A SCORE TO SETTLE.

Mueller: AND SO YOU SAY,
WELL, OK, HOW GOOD ARE YOU

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GO INTO THAT AND SURVIVE?

Narrator: 1991.

AL MINHAD AIR FORCE BASE.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE WAR.

40 F-16s GET READY
TO TAKE OFF FOR BAGHDAD.

THEIR MISSION:

TO BOMB
AN IRAQI MUNITIONS FACTORY

40 MILES SOUTH OF THE CITY.

Mueller: OUR GOAL WAS

TO BRING IN THIS PACKAGE
OF 40 AIRPLANES IN

AS CLOSE AND TIGHT TOGETHER

TO BE ABLE TO DROP THAT BOMB
AND HIT THE TARGET.

Narrator:
PROTECTING THE FACTORY:

IRAQI SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES...

AND THEIR RADAR.

THE F-16s TAKE OFF.

TO BEAT THE RADAR,

THEY TAKE
THE LOW-FLYING STRATEGY

THE ISRAELIS USED TEN YEARS AGO

AND TURN IT ON ITS HEAD.

Mueller: THE PLAN REALLY WAS,
INSTEAD OF UNDER-FLYING THEM,

TO OVERFLY THEM.

THE RADAR WOULD SEE YOU,
THEY COULD SHOOT AT YOU,

BUT THEN YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY,

BY YOUR MANEUVERS
WITH YOUR AIRPLANE,

YOU WOULD DEFEAT THAT MISSILE.

Narrator: TEMPTING
THE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

IS A BOLD STRATEGY,

BUT WILL IT WORK?

F-16 PILOTS AREN'T SO SURE.

Mueller: BECAUSE
WE HAD TRAINED FOR A DECADE

FLYING BELOW SAM COVERAGE,

AND NOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN

WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND FLY
OVER THE TOP OF THEM,

AND EVERYBODY HAD BEEN TOLD

YOU CAN'T FLY
OVER THE TOP OF THEM.

THAT'S A BIG MENTAL ADJUSTMENT.

AND I WOULD SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT GENERAL
STEPHEN MUELLER LEADS 40 F-16s

ON A BOMBING RAID TO BAGHDAD.

TO AVOID IRAQI
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES,

THEY CRUISE AT 38,000 FEET.

THE IRAQIS LOOK FOR THE F-16s,

TAKE AIM,

AND FIRE.

THE F-16s ARE SO HIGH,

THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME
TO REACT.

Mueller: WE'RE EVADING
SEVERAL MISSILES,

AND YOU CAN REALLY TELL
AS YOU START TO MANEUVER

THAT IT'S JUST GOING
TO FALL OUT OF THE SKY.

Narrator:
THREE MILES FROM THE TARGET,

THE VIPERS PUT THEIR NOSES DOWN

AND DIVE IN HARD.

Mueller: AT 600 MILES AN HOUR,

YOU'RE COVERING
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROUND

IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.

IT TAKES A LOT OF TRAINING

TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOUR PLANE
IN THE EXACT RIGHT POSITION

TO BE ABLE TO DROP THAT BOMB
AND HIT THE TARGET.

[BEEP]

Narrator: THE F-16s STRIKE
WITH PINPOINT PRECISION.

WITHIN MOMENTS, THEY'RE GONE.

THE MISSION
IS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.

IN DESERT STORM,

THE F-16s FLY
OVER 13,000 SORTIES...

MORE THAN ANY OTHER
COALITION AIRCRAFT.

Mueller: I THINK
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD

NOTICED THAT THE PRECISION OF
OUR AIRPLANES WAS PRETTY AMAZING

AND THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ABILITY
TO DESTROY LOTS OF TARGETS

VERY RAPIDLY.

Narrator: THE VIPER PROVES

IT CAN OVERFLY
THE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES,

AND WIN.

IN ITS NEXT WAR,

THE F-16 TARGETS
THE MISSILES THEMSELVES.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

1999, KOSOVO.

[GUNFIRE]

SERB PARAMILITARIES
ROAM THE COUNTRY,

TARGETING ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

THE REGION SLIPS INTO CIVIL WAR.

IN MARCH, NATO
PUTS A PLAN INTO ACTION:

OPERATION ALLIED FORCE.

Bill Clinton:
UNITED STATES FORCES,

ACTING WITH OUR NATO ALLIES,

HAVE COMMENCED AIR STRIKES

AGAINST SERBIAN
MILITARY TARGETS.

Narrator:
THE AIR STRIKES WON'T BE EASY.

THE SERBS HAVE
THE TOUGHEST AIR DEFENSES

THAT NATO'S EVER EXPERIENCED.

TO FACE DOWN THE MISSILES:

THE F-16.

NATO BRINGS IN
MORE THAN 200 OF THEM.

Sonny Blinkinsop: SO AS TENSIONS
STARTED TO PICK UP,

ALL THE AIRPLANES FROM NATO
STARTED TO CONVERGE ON ITALY.

Narrator:
COLONEL SONNY BLINKINSOP

WAS AN F-16 PILOT
WITH THE 23rd FIGHTER SQUADRON.

Blinkinsop:
OUR MISSION WAS TO PERFORM

SUPPRESSION
OF ENEMY AIR DEFENSES.

IN OTHER WORDS,
OUR JOB WAS TO GO OUT,

FIND THE SURFACE-TO-AIR THREATS
THAT THE SERBIANS HAD,

AND ENGAGE THEM WITH THE HARM.

Narrator: THE HARM,

OR AGM-88 HIGH-SPEED
ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE.

IT ADDS MORE FIREPOWER

TO THE VIPER'S
ALREADY MIGHTY ARSENAL.

Ayres: THE F-16
IS A VERY VERSATILE FIGHTER.

IT CAN CARRY EVERY WEAPON

THAT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
EMPLOYS RIGHT NOW

THAT IS MEANT
FOR FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: TO GET IN CLOSE,

THE VIPER HAS
A 20-MILLIMETER GATLING GUN.

FOR ENEMIES IN THE AIR:

AN AIM-9 SIDEWINDER MISSILE
OR AN AIM-120 AMRAAM.

FOR GROUND TARGETS,
THERE'S MORE OPTIONS:

LASER-GUIDED BOMBS,

OR, AGAINST ENEMY RADAR,
THE HARM.

Ayres: WHAT I THINK
MAKES IT VERY UNIQUE

IS THE ABILITY
TO CHANGE MISSIONS QUICKLY.

SO, YOU COULD HAVE
THIS CONFIGURED

FOR AN AIR-TO-GROUND ATTACK,

AND THEN THREE HOURS LATER

HAVE IT CONFIGURED
FOR AN AIR-TO-AIR MISSION.

Narrator: THE F-16 HAS A WEAPON
FOR EVERY KIND OF ENEMY.

BUT IT HAS TO FIND
THE ENEMY FIRST.

MAY 2, 1999.

AVIANO AIR FORCE BASE, ITALY.

FOUR U.S. F-16s
FIRE UP ON THE RUNWAY.

Blinkinsop:
ON THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT

WE WERE ESCORTING IN A PACKAGE
THAT HAD TWO GROUPS:

TORNADOS AND F-18s.

Narrator:
THE STRIKERS HAVE A TARGET:

OBRVA-MORAVA AIRFIELD
ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF SERBIA.

Blinkinsop:
THE STRIKERS THAT NIGHT

WERE GOING IN TO TAKE OUT
PARTS OF THE AIRFIELD,

PARTS OF THE HANGARS,

SOME BARRACKS,
AND SOME OTHER MILITARY TARGETS.

SO OUR JOB THAT NIGHT
WAS TO PROTECT THE STRIKERS

SO THEY COULD HIT THOSE TARGETS.

Narrator:
THE FOUR F-16s TAKE OFF.

THREE HOURS LATER,
THEY ENTER SERBIAN AIRSPACE.

IT'S TIME TO START HUNTING
FOR ENEMY MISSILES.

[BEEPING]

SUDDENLY, BLINKINSOP'S F-16
SOUNDS A WARNING.

THREE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

ARE ROCKETING STRAIGHT
FOR THEIR FORMATION.

Blinkinsop:
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NIGHTTIME,

YOU CAN SEE THEM
COMING TOWARDS YOU

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BIG BURN
ON THE BACK OF THEM.

IT'S LIKE A CIGARETTE
COMING AT YOU.

Narrator: THE F-16s SCRAMBLE
TO FLY UNDER THE MISSILES.

BUT FORCING THE VIPERS
TO FLY LOW

IS PART OF THE SERBIANS' GAME.

Blinkinsop:
THEY WOULD FIRE THE SA-3s AT US

TO GET US TO REACT.

AS YOU LOSE ALTITUDE,
YOU DESCEND

INTO NOW THE TRIPLE-A,
THE HIGH-CALIBER TRIPLE-A SITES.

Narrator: BLINKINSOP
HAS TO DO SOMETHING FAST.

HE TURNS HIS VIPER
TOWARD THE MISSILE SITE

AND LAUNCHES HIS HARM.

Blinkinsop:
F-16s ARE A GREAT AIRPLANE
WHEN YOU'RE BEING SHOT AT,

VERY MANEUVERABLE
WITH A HARM ON BOARD.

AS IT COMES OFF THE AIRCRAFT,
IT'S LIKE A BOTTLE ROCKET.

IT'S VERY FAST AND MAKES
A BIG PLUME NEAR YOUR AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IT'S A HIT.

BUT THE STRIKERS
ARE NOT SAFE YET.

Blinkinsop: THE STRIKERS
MAKE A CALL ON THE RADIO

THAT THEY'RE APPROACHING
THE TARGET AREA,

AND WE SEE A SECOND SALVO
OF SA-3 IS COMING

FROM ROUGHLY THE SAME AREA,
THE TARGET AREA OUT OF OBRVA.

Narrator:
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM.

BLINKINSOP IS DOWN
TO HIS LAST HARM.

[BEEPING]

BLINKINSOP LEVELS OFF HIS WINGS.

HE PUTS THE MISSILE'S LAUNCH PAD
IN HIS SIGHT

AND TAKES HIS SHOT.

45 SECONDS LATER,
THE HARM REACHES ITS TARGET.

IT'S DEAD ON.

Blinkinsop: WE DON'T SEE ANY
MORE ACTIVITY OUT OF THAT AREA,

AND ABOUT A MINUTE
AND A HALF LATER

THE STRIKERS
WERE IN THE TARGET AREA,

AND WE COULD SEE
THAT THEIR BOMBS

WERE HITTING THE GROUND
AND BLOWING UP.

SO, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Grant: IN OPERATION ALLIED FORCE
F-16s BECAME THE PRIMARY TOOLS

FOR FINDING
SERBIAN AIR DEFENSE MISSILES

AND LAUNCHING MISSILES
TO TAKE THEM OUT.

THE F-16 WAS JUST SUCH
AN ADAPTABLE MULTI-ROLE PLATFORM

THAT IT WAS A NATURAL
FOR THIS MISSION.

Narrator:
THE F-16 IS SO ADAPTABLE

THAT IT TAKES ON
YET ANOTHER KEY ROLE:

TAKING CONTROL OF THE AIRSPACE.

[SIRENS]

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.

AL-QAEDA OPERATIVES
STRIKE TWO AMERICAN CITIES.

IT'S THE DEADLIEST ATTACK
EVER ON AMERICAN SOIL.

Tom Brokaw: WHAT WAS ONCE
A SYMBOL OF AMERICA'S MIGHT

IS TONIGHT A SCENE
OF UTTER DEVASTATION.

Narrator: SIX MONTHS LATER,
U.S. FORCES SCOUR AFGHANISTAN.

THEIR MISSION:

FIND 9/11 MASTERMIND
OSAMA BIN LADEN.

Bush: ALL I WANT
AND AMERICA WANTS,

HIM BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

Narrator: NAVY SEALS
AND ARMY RANGERS

PATROL THE MOUNTAINS.

HIGH OVERHEAD,

THE AIR FORCE'S LONG-ESTABLISHED
MULTI-ROLE FIGHTER,

THE F-16.

Burt Bartley:
THE F-16s FROM OUR SQUADRON

WERE FLYING TWO TO FOUR
AIRCRAFT PER DAY.

Narrator:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL BURT BARTLEY

WAS AN F-16 PILOT DURING
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

Bartley: WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE
WERE GOING TO BE TASKED TO DO.

WE WERE TRYING TO ADAPT
TO THE SITUATIONS AT HAND,

BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE
AND TRAINING.

Narrator: MARCH 2002.

HIGH ABOVE AFGHANISTAN,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL BARTLEY
AND HIS WINGMAN

FLY THEIR F-16s
ON A ROUTINE PATROL.

SUDDENLY THEY GET A CALL
FROM TWO F-15 STRIKE EAGLES.

Bartley: I HEARD THE F-15s
CALL FOR SUPPORT

FOR A DOWNED HELICOPTER.

I COULD TELL
BY THE SENSE OF URGENCY

THAT THEY NEEDED HELP
AND THEY NEEDED IT NOW.

Narrator: BARTLEY RADIOS
THAT HE'S ON HIS WAY

AND READY TO TAKE CHARGE.

Bartley:
WHEN WE ARRIVED ON STATION,

I TOOK ON SEAT COMMAND
FROM THE F-15s.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH WHO
HAS CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.

Narrator: BARTLEY QUICKLY RADIOS
DOWN TO THE GROUND TROOPS.

IN ORDER TO COME UP
WITH A STRATEGY,

HE HAS TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

Bartley: I WAS ABLE TO GET
IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION

WITH THE GUY WITH THE RADIO
ON THE GROUND

TO DETERMINE HIS POSITION
RELATIVE TO THE ENEMY.

Narrator: BARTLEY ASKS THE F-15s
ABOUT THEIR FIREPOWER.

EACH ONE HAS
TWO 500-POUND BOMBS.

HE GIVES THE F-15s
THE SOLDIERS' COORDINATES

AND TELLS THEM
TO GIVE IT THEIR BEST SHOT.

THE F-15s DIVE.

THEY RELEASE THEIR BOMBS.

ALL FOUR OF THEM MISS.

THERE'S MORE BAD NEWS.

THE F-15s ARE ALMOST
OUT OF FUEL.

BARTLEY SENDS THEM HOME.

Bartley: THEY HAD
OVERSTAYED THEIR TIMELINE.

THEY WERE OUT OF ORDNANCE,

WE NEEDED THE FUEL
FOR OURSELVES,

SO THEY RETURNED TO KUWAIT.

Narrator:
THE STRIKE EAGLES TAKE OFF,

LEAVING BARTLEY AND HIS WINGMAN
ALONE IN THE AIR.

IF ANYTHING'S
GOING TO HAPPEN NOW,

IT'S UP TO THE F-16s.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL BURT BARTLEY
CIRCLES HIS F-16 IN AFGHANISTAN.

20,000 FEET BELOW,

TWO TEAMS OF ARMY RANGERS
ARE UNDER FIRE FROM AL-QAEDA.

FROM THE GROUND,
THINGS LOOK BAD.

BUT BARTLEY
HAS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

THAT THE SOLDIERS DON'T.

HE HAS ONE LAST WEAPON
HE CAN CALL ON...

A PREDATOR DRONE.

NORMALLY IT OPERATES ON ITS OWN.

THIS TIME, BARTLEY MAKES IT
PART OF THE MISSION.

Bartley: I KNEW HE HAD
A VERY SMALL HELLFIRE MISSILE

WITH PRECISION ENGAGEMENT
CAPABILITY.

WE GAVE HIM CLEARANCE
TO ENGAGE THE TARGET,

AND HE SHOT THE HELLFIRE
RIGHT IN THAT LANDING ZONE.

Narrator: THE HELLFIRE MISSILE
DOES THE JOB.

IT'S A PERFECTLY
ORCHESTRATED KILL.

THE F-16s
CONTINUE TO KEEP WATCH.

AS SOON AS THE COAST IS CLEAR,

CHINOOKS COME IN
TO TAKE THE SOLDIERS OUT.

THEY BRING ALL 41
OF THE SOLDIERS HOME.

FORWARD AIR CONTROL:

IT'S THE ULTIMATE MISSION FOR
THE ULTIMATE MULTI-ROLE FIGHTER.

Bartley: IT'S PHYSICALLY
DEMANDING, SURE.

IS IT EMOTIONALLY TAXING?
CAN BE.

BUT THERE'S
NO GREATER SATISFACTION

THAN YOU ACTUALLY USED THE
RESOURCES YOU HAD AT THE TIME

TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.

THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.

Narrator: THE F-16 SEEMS TO BE
AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME.

BUT NOW IT MUST GET READY

FOR THE BIGGEST SHOWDOWN
OF ITS LIFE.

JANUARY 14, 2015.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,
CALIFORNIA.

THE F-16 MEETS ITS REPLACEMENT:

THE F-35.

THE PURPOSE:

TO SEE WHO HAS THE BEST STUFF.

THE F-35 FLIES CLEAN.

IT CARRIES NO WEAPONS.

THE F-16
FLIES AT A DISADVANTAGE,

LOADED WITH TWO BIG FUEL TANKS

THAT ADD AN EXTRA 7,000 POUNDS.

Sprey:
THE RESULTS WERE CRUSHING.

IN NOT A SINGLE DOGFIGHT

WAS THE F-35 ABLE
TO EITHER DEFEND ITSELF

AGAINST AN ATTACK FROM THE F-16

OR TO CONVERT ITS ATTACK
INTO A KILL.

Narrator: IT A GREAT PERFORMANCE
FOR A MIDDLE-AGED FIGHTER,

BUT THE AIR FORCE ISN'T SWAYED.

Grant: EVERY TIME
THERE'S A NEW JET,

THOSE WHO FLY THE CURRENT JETS

LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
HOW GOOD THEY ARE.

THE F-35 WAS DESIGNED
FROM THE BEGINNING

AS A STEALTH FIGHTER.

THAT GIVES IT
INCREDIBLE ADVANTAGES.

Narrator:
EVEN THE F-16'S GREATEST FANS

ADMIT THAT THE VIPER MAY BE
GETTING TOO OLD FOR COMBAT.

Grant: THE F-16s ARE ONLY RATED
TO 8,000 HOURS.

ONCE THEY APPROACH 8,000 HOURS,
THEY HAVE TO BE RETIRED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT
BLOCK RETIREMENTS OF F-16s

IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

Narrator: IN THE MEANTIME,

THE F-16 PRODUCTION LINE
KEEPS HUMMING.

LOCKHEED-MARTIN HAS ORDERS
FROM 26 NATIONS.

Sprey: THE F-16
WAS UNIVERSALLY VIEWED

AS PRETTY MUCH
THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD

AMONG OTHER COUNTRIES,

AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY
4,500 OF THEM WERE BUILT.

Narrator: THE VIPER
WAS DESIGNED FOR ONE THING:

DOGFIGHTING.

BUT IT'S BECOME SO MUCH MORE.

Grant:
THE F-16 HAS GONE FAR BEYOND

THE EXPECTATIONS
OF THE FIGHTER MAFIA.

THEY'RE READY FOR AIR-TO-AIR,
CONVENTIONAL AIR-TO-GROUND,

NUCLEAR ALERT,
HOMELAND DEFENSE MISSIONS,

STRAFING.

YOU NAME IT,
THE F-16 CAN DO IT.

Narrator: THE F-16,

A SEAMLESS COMBINATION
OF MAN AND MACHINE.

FOR PILOTS, IT'S THE AIRCRAFT
THEY DREAM OF FLYING.

Blinkinsop: I CAN IMAGINE
NO OTHER AIRPLANE TO FLY.

IT IS THE GREATEST
AIRPLANE BUILT.

Narrator: VERSATILE,

SNEAKY,

AND LIGHTNING FAST.

THE F-16
IS A MULTI-ROLE ROCK STAR.

WHEN YOU NEED A PLANE
THAT CAN DO ANYTHING,

JUST CALL ON THE F-16.