After some time away, I have been able to get to work on the Netz. After doing some research and looking at photographs I have decided to try to recreate plane #107, the most successful and famous F-16 in the world. Here is my "class report" on what I learned. Credits to Isradecal and Wikipedia contributors.
The first F-16A/B's were delivered to the Israeli Air Force on July 2, 1980. #107 was the first to land at Ramat AFB. The F-16's were named "Netz", Hebrew for Hawk. Two squadrons were formed from the first deliveries, 'The First Jet Squadron' and 'Northern Knights'. #107 was assigned to the First Jet Squadron.
Less than a year later, June 7, 1981 four F-16s from each squadron, covered by IAF F-15s, were flown in an attack on the Osiraq nuclear plant in Iraq. #107 was piloted by Amos Yadlin and was second to strike the plant after flight leader Zeev Raz.
The attack had been in the planning stages since at least 1979. Israel believed the plant would be used to create nuclear weapons but that fact is debated to this day. During the Iran-Iraq war, the plant was attacked and damaged by Iranian planes but was repaired in under a year. War makes strange bedfellows and this was no exception. Iran had flown recon flights over the plant before and after their attack and provided their intel to the Israelis.
The flight flew over Jordan and Saudi Arabia enroute to Iraq using Jordanian call signs, Saudi dialect and at one point they claimed to be a lost Saudi patrol to Jordanian controllers on the radio. The flight allegedly passed over Jordanian King Hussein's yacht in the Gulf of Aqaba where he was vacationing. He claimed to have spotted the IAF markings and noted their heading. He assumed the Osiraq plant was the target and ordered that Iraq be alerted. The message was never delivered due to communication problems. In another strange twist, Iraqi AAA gunners had left their posts 1/2 hour before the attack, turning off their radars. The planes flew undetected, 35 meters over the desert in Saudi Arabia and Iraq until reaching the plant. They increased altitude to 1100 meters and the F-16s dropped 16, Mk84 bombs. At least 8 struck the plant's containment dome causing heavy damage. Some of the F-15s flew close cover with the F-16s throughout the attack while others broke off to cause a distraction for any Iraqi response. The attack flight went to high altitude and returned to Israel. Saddam Hussein ordered the the commander of the western air defenses and all associated officers above Major be executed. In addition, 23 pilots and other officers were imprisoned.
Governments around the world including the U.S. condemned the attack but many saw things differently when entering the 1990's and the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
In 1982 Israel signed a treaty with Egypt removing their forces from the Sinai peninsula. Things were heating up however on the northern border with Syria and Lebanon. Beginning in April 1982 F-16 #107 saw action again. Operation 'Peace for Galilee' began in June 1982 and targeted PLO terrorists in southern Lebanon. Coming to their defense was the Syrian Air Force which suffered badly against F-16s and others in the IAF. 44 aerial victories were claimed by IAF F-16s over Syrian planes and helicopters. #107 was credited with 6.5 victories with three pilots. This is the highest number of kills credited to any single F-16 in the world. IAF F-16s were credited with 44 kills during the operation. IAF F-16s of all versions have accounted for 55 aerial kills in various conflicts since entering service.
Date Pilot Weapon Enemy
April 4, 1982 Zeev Raz AIM9 Sidewinder Mig 23
June 9, 1982 Eliezer Shkedi AIM9 Sidewinder Mig 23 shared kill
June 9, 1982 Eliezer Shkedi AIM9 Sidewinder Mig 23
June 11, 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM9 Sidewinder Mig 23
June 11, 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM9 Sidewinder Su 22
June 11, 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM9 Sidewinder Su 22
June 11, 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM9 Sidewinder Gazelle Helicopter
As the IAF evolved through the new century, the F-16 A/Bs were being replaced as the premier aircraft by newer versions including two seater 'Sufa's' as well as C and D variants. #107 was moved to the 'Defenders of the South Squadron' where she served until November 11, 2015. She is now on display at the Israeli Air Force museum in her last markings.
I intend to build my kit as a representation of the plane as she flew in 2010. I am planning an in flight configuration using the kit supplied pilot figure and a blurred desert base for a mount. Some photos from Isradecal's CD are posted here.
Enough of the history lesson. Let's do this!
