Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

From Apollo and Soyuz, to Gerry Anderson, Irwin Allen, Star Wars and Trek to Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica and those strange, doe-eyed Japanese school girls...to any model kits you can think of, that only exists in imagination.
Post Reply
Zen
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 271
Joined: April 20th, 2016, 12:58 am
Location: Portimão, Algarve, Portugal

Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Zen »

"In 2011, the gradual increase of Russian aircraft detected over the Atlantic ocean, led the US to present a proposal to the Portuguese government to extend their presence at the Lajes air base located in the Azores islands.
This program offered the Portuguese government a payment for use of the base, payment which would come in form of military equipment for the PoAF.
The proposal granted a total of 48 F-16 fighters of the latest V configuration that were to be some of the most advanced Vipers to date. This agreement would allow the Americans to maintain their presence and surveillance of any military movements happening in the Atlantic, while at the same time, they would be reinforcing one of their allied air forces with more modern equipment for a better response and assistance of US forces in any possible scenario.
The Portuguese government would almost immediately accept what would be called the Peace Atlantis III program.
Like the PoAF had already been operating the F-16 for a long time, the US government, together with Lockheed Martin, chose an option that would be cheaper, easier to put into production and for Portuguese pilots to make the transition.
This program consisted of the further development and integration of new aerial combat technologies for fighters of previous generations, and in this case, would be composed by several improvements for the iconic Viper.
Starting with the advanced SABR APG-83 radar, IRST sensor and new displays and mission computer in the cockpit, this suite of systems would give the old Viper new capabilities and better chances against possible enemy fighters. This variant would also have the option of using CFTs or external fuel tanks conforming to the fuselage to increase its range of action.
But the one of the most unexpected upgrades was the new Skorpion exhaust nozzle from General Electrics, which, although identical on the outside compared to a normal one, this nozzle is a derivative of the nozzle used on the F-16VISTA, governed by a 3D propulsion vector control system.
To complete the propulsion section, for the first time , the powerplant would be a combination of rival company's products.
The US government decided that the workshare should be divided so, Pratt&Whitney was forced to work with General Electrics as a team on this project
The Pratt & Whitney F135 ADVENT, which, by having almost the same exact dimensions of the P&W engines used on the Viper, was easy to adapt to any existing airframe with a few minor adjustments and connection parts.
These fighters would in fact, be even more lethal and survivable than the F-16E/F Block60, with only a few differences of hardware and software.
The first 3 single seat and 3 twin seat F-16C/DV Block70, were delivered in March of 2015. They were flown all the way to Portugal by PoAF pilots, who traveled from the American base in Tucson, Arizona, where they went through transition training, back to Monte Real's BA5, where they were received by the remaining "Falcons" of the 201st fighter squadron and senior representatives of the Portuguese and American government, PoAF and USAF, as well as a representative of Lockheed and the OGMA/Embraer.
The last 12 of the 48 were delivered in 2016, already with the new stealthier paint, the "Have glass V", with a different overall tone, adapted to our mixed territory. 6 of each of version would also be delivered to the "Jaguars" of Squadron 301, just a few months after the first arrived."

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Zen
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 271
Joined: April 20th, 2016, 12:58 am
Location: Portimão, Algarve, Portugal

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Zen »

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

:beer:
User avatar
MarkyM607
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 9153
Joined: January 5th, 2013, 1:16 pm
Location: Cambs

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by MarkyM607 »

Very nice, definitely loaded for Bear (See what I did there? no, oh well). Also looks sinister and menacing in that colour scheme.
Hoping to return to modelling sometime this year!! :lol:
Owner of Marky's Model Emporium since 2013!.
User avatar
iggie
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 23360
Joined: July 31st, 2013, 11:04 am
Location: North Somercotes, Lincolnshire
Contact:

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/hD(V)

Post by iggie »

Excellent pair of builds!
Best wishes

Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
User avatar
Tarkas
Active Participant
Posts: 619
Joined: August 9th, 2012, 6:24 pm
Location: Geosynchronous orbit, but at a very low altitude

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Tarkas »

Definitely a mean-looking pair of Vipers. As regards your backstory, if you're going to add a cylindrical-vectoring nozzle with all the engine mods required, why not include the variable-ramp intake GD once proposed for the F-16? Said intake was supposed to allow the Viper to do Mach 2 with no other modes to the airframe, just a FADEC upgrade. The best part about it is, you don't have to do anything to the model, just say it's there! :mrgreen:
Ping! Ping!! Ping!!! -- Mother Box
She's such a chatterbox, sometimes...
Zen
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 271
Joined: April 20th, 2016, 12:58 am
Location: Portimão, Algarve, Portugal

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Zen »

Thanks, guys!! Glad you like the brothers! :mrgreen:
@Tarkas - Well, i think that a variable ramp intake would make it heavier and more complicated, and i really don't see the need for it, the Viper does Mach2 with it's normal fixed intake, so why would it need a Variable ramp to do what it already does without it? The F-16VISTA had the 3D TVC nozzle and din't change the intake.
IMHO, it would be much better off with the Diverterless Supersonic Intake, wouldn't it? Does Mach2 with no moving parts, has lower rcs and weight... ;-)

:beer:
celt
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 3238
Joined: July 6th, 2014, 3:19 pm

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by celt »

Nice back story and great model,well tidy.
Zen
The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
Posts: 271
Joined: April 20th, 2016, 12:58 am
Location: Portimão, Algarve, Portugal

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Zen »

Thanks, Celt, glad you like them! The next F-16 is already on the bench. :beer:
User avatar
Stuart
Raider of the Lost Ark Royal
Posts: 19204
Joined: February 25th, 2013, 4:55 pm
Location: Forever England
Contact:

Re: Peace Atlantis III - PoAF's F-16C/D(V)

Post by Stuart »

Very smart that - I like it a lot!
Stuart Templeton I may not be good but I'm slow...

My Blog: https://stuartsscalemodels.blogspot.com/
Post Reply

Return to “Real Space, Sci-Fi and What-iffery”