General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
General Dynamics · jet, 1 engine · ICAO F16
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has the highest maximum takeoff weight among the 99 single-engine types with a published figure, and the tallest tail and the greatest length among the 104 single-engine types. It also has the 2nd-lowest wingspan-to-length ratio of the 364 types on this site. The runner-up in maximum takeoff weight, the Air Tractor AT-802, trails by 164.4%.
Airport design codes
- I
Design Group I. Set by wingspan and tail height alike.
- D
Approach Category D. From its FAA reference approach speed of 160 kt (band 141 to 165 kt).
Gear and weights
| Cockpit to main gear | 15.9 ft | 4.8 m |
|---|---|---|
| Span-to-length ratio | 0.66 | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 42,300 lb | 19,187 kg |
| Main gear code | S | |
| Taxiway Design Group | 1A | |
| ICAO wake category | Medium |
Where it sits
The F-16 also has the joint 2nd-highest FAA reference approach speed of the 364 types on this site (the input for its Approach Category), and the largest fleet on the US register among the 159 jets on this site with a registration count. It also has the 3rd-shortest wheelbase and the 3rd-shortest wingspan among the 176 jets on this site. In Approach Category D (39 types), it has the narrowest main gear, the 2nd-lowest tail, the 2nd-shortest length and the 2nd-lowest maximum takeoff weight. By length it falls between the Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante and the Cessna Citation V / Ultra / Encore.
Main gear 8.7 ft wide (2.7 m), 27% of the span; wheelbase 12.9 ft (3.9 m), 26% of the length.
US records: 64,560 US flight-plan operations in FY2024; 1,017 on the US register.
Closest in size on this site
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
- Learjet 25
- Learjet 23
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.