LaFinlandiaF-16 being loaded onto a Ukrainian An-124 in Arizona, USA.
aramis87I'm delighted we're sending these over to Ukraine (though it should have been done a long time ago).
Question: the F-16s are planes. Is there some reason we're loading them onto other planes for transport instead of flying them over?
The maximum range for the F16 in “ferry” more is something like 4000km. The distance from Belfast (Maine) to Belfast (the original) is 4500km.
That would mean air to air refueling, which is expensive and dangerous. It would put major wear on the planes, which are not the newest to start with. And unlike the Antonov, the F16 comes with neither legroom nor bathrooms.
the F16 comes with neither legroom nor bathrooms.
But at maximum speed, it could in theory cover the 4500km in just over 2h (but probably with worse fuel economy and less range)
There’s no way it can get anywhere near that range at full speed. Fighters need to use afterburners to get up to max speed, and F16s run out of fuel in about 10 minutes when using afterburner.