US Air Force 180th Fighter Wing conducts night training missions with F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter.

US Air Force Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing conducts nighttime training mission with F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF).

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, takes off for a nighttime training mission, June 16, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Media services DoD)

The 180FW is responsible for the nation’s number one homeland defense mission, Aerospace Control Alert, 24/7/365. Reporting to NORAD, this critical mission consistently proves to be an essential, long-term solution for the defense of our nation. With 60 percent of the U.S. population lying within a 600 mile radius of Toledo, the 180FW has flown more than 900 missions since activated in 2008.

The 180FW has 10 Airspace and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspaces, or ATCAA, areas available, along with five designated Military Operating Airspaces and four restricted airspaces within a 240 nautical mile radius.

Included in these designated areas, the 180FW has access to air-to-ground gunnery ranges suited to the capabilities of both the F-16 and the F-35A. Both Alpena Airspace Complex in Michigan and Buckeye Airspace, Ohio, are supersonic, chaff and flare capable with full ground radar control and Link-16 capability. Link-16 is an electronic communication and data link between aircraft that allows pilots to communicate without the need to talk over radio frequencies in an effort to minimize detection from adversaries.

In addition, the wing has access to three aerial gunnery ranges in Atterbury and Jefferson, Indiana, as well as Grayling, Michigan. All are approved for employment of precision-guided munitions, allowing the 180FW to maintain combat readiness with air interdiction, close air support and air defense missions.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.

The Fighting Falcon's key features include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, an ejection seat reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system which helps to make it an agile aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other mission equipment.