Original subtitles

[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.