so I saw an F-16 driving down I-66 a couple weeks back....

[maddawg308]

Saw this on I-66, just west of The Plains, VA, going eastbound toward Washington, D.C. F-16 Falcon riding the back of a semi trailer, wings and tail were taken off and riding underneath it. I don't think there was an engine in there, just the hull. Was about December 21st. or so. Sorry for the crappy pics, best I could do with a cellphone while I was the only one in the truck. Why would an F-16 be taking a ride on a flatbed? Good planes fly. Junk planes are demilled onsite. Perhaps headed for the Smithsonian museum at Dulles? F-16s are still pretty new to be put on display....

 

[swbradley1]

Depending on the model it might not have been that new.

Or a hard landing might have broken something that isn't economical to repair so display it or scrap.

 

[FMJ]

Heck, they are using F-16's as target drones now. . . . http://www.boeing.com/Features/2012/09/bds_qf16_firstflight_09_04_12.html

 

[CBR Metalworks]

I bought it, just had it delivered, truck driver forgot where he was taking it which is why you saw him up there. It is safely in my front yard now, gonna take it out for a spin later.

 

[11Echo]

Aircraft going down the highway always attracts the rubber neckers. You should have heard some of the things on the CB when I moved this one. Too bad I couldn't record it.

 

[hndrsonj]

There are F-16's on static display all over-that's my guess.

 

[Derrickl112]

.

 

[M813rc]

Lots of aircraft get transported on trucks to rebuild facilities when they can't fly them there for whatever reason (moderate damage, etc). I see F-18s going down I-10 all the time when I drive out toward AZ/CA. Cheers

 

[M813rc]

Why is the site stringing everything together into one run-on sentence today?? Cheers

 

[HAWKMAN]

He was headed up to my place...going to make one from two...

 

[11Echo]

Saw this on I-66, just west of The Plains, VA, going eastbound toward Washington, D.C. F-16 Falcon riding the back of a semi trailer, wings and tail were taken off and riding underneath it. I don't think there was an engine in there, just the hull. Was about December 21st. or so. Sorry for the crappy pics, best I could do with a cellphone while I was the only one in the truck. Why would an F-16 be taking a ride on a flatbed? Good planes fly. Junk planes are demilled onsite. Perhaps headed for the Smithsonian museum at Dulles? F-16s are still pretty new to be put on display....

Some help with the pics.

 

[FrankUSMC]

Could be going to be rebuilt. We get aircraft on lowboys all the time at our rebuild facility.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

 

[cajunrebel]

First post on this forum, but hi, I am actually an active duty F-16 mechanic. Looking at that planes landing gear it is an old A model. We only have a couple of them left flying and those are modified testbed aircraft. These planes were built in the late 70's and early 80's and were used hard. Technology also advanced greatly through the years when the Air Force (and Navy) was still buying them. That aircraft is likely going on a stick somewhere.
Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

First post on this forum, but hi, I am actually an active duty F-16 mechanic. Looking at that planes landing gear it is an old A model. We only have a couple of them left flying and those are modified testbed aircraft. These planes were built in the late 70's and early 80's and were used hard. Technology also advanced greatly through the years when the Air Force (and Navy) was still buying them. That aircraft is likely going on a stick somewhere.
Any questions, feel free to ask.

Being a testbed aircraft she could have a very unique and storied history. I hope she will be properly displayed and recognized for her contributions to the F-16 family of fighters.

Thanks for contributing and WELCOME to the SS Forums, cajunrebel! Thank you also for your service to our nation.

Now.... Find a bunk, stow your gear, and prepare to get underway

 

[cajunrebel]

This was likely not a testbed. I simply mean that the only ones that still fly are test beds. The canopy on the aircraft shows significant sun damage that only comes from years of neglect. It has not flown in some time.