COBI F-16D Fighting Falcon Set 5914

COBI's F-16D Fighting Falcon is a 1:48 model built from 436 blocks, 31 cm long, produced under licence from Lockheed Martin. AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles are included, along with two figures — a pilot and a weapon systems officer in US Air Force flight suits — a display base and a nameplate. All markings are printed; no stickers.

The second seat is not just for students

The F-16D was built as a trainer, and if that were all it did the second cockpit would be a cost rather than a capability.

In practice air forces discovered that a second crew member earns his seat on certain missions. Suppressing enemy air defences means locating radar sites, working out which ones matter, and directing anti-radiation missiles while flying a fast jet through the airspace those radars control. Close air support means talking to troops on the ground, identifying targets that are close to friendly positions, and getting it right. Both are more than one person can do well at once.

Several operators fly two-seat F-16s as front-line aircraft for exactly these roles, with a weapon systems officer in the back rather than an instructor — which is what the second figure in this set represents.

The cost is fuel. The rear cockpit displaces an internal tank, so a D has noticeably less range than a C.

In the COBI range

Set 5910 is the Polish F-16C and 5913 the Norwegian F-16AM, both single-seaters at this scale.

Specifications

Pieces: 436 · Figures: 2 · Scale: 1:48 · Licensed by Lockheed Martin · No stickers
Model dimensions: 31 × 22 × 11.5 cm (12.2 × 8.7 × 4.5 in)