Preorder Expected Arrival - JAN 2025

In 1969, the US Navy established its Fighter Weapons School (NFWS), more popularly known as TOPGUN, at NAS Miramar, California. Its objective was to develop, refine and teach air combat maneuvering tactics and techniques to selected fleet air crews flying against aggressor squadrons. The aggressor aircraft are flown by TOPGUN instructors in a way that simulates the tactics and capabilities of air forces deemed most likely to be a threat to the US. The NFWS merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at NAS Fallon, Nevada in 1996. The NSAWC continues to teach the TOPGUN course, more formally known as the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) program.

Designed by General Dynamics as a lightweight, daytime USAF air-combat fighter, the F-16 was first flown on January 20th, 1974. This single-engine, supersonic aircraft has, over the years, evolved into a multirole aircraft. It has a frameless bubble canopy-giving its pilot superior visibility-and it uses advanced aerodynamics. The F-16 was one of the first designs to use a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire system, which helps it pull 9-g maneuvers and achieve speeds of more than Mach 2. Called "Viper" by its pilots, the F-16 is considered one of the most successful aircraft designs of the Cold War, with 4,400+ aircraft built since 1976.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-16 is constructed using an intelligent mix of diecast metal and plastic, which allows for the greatest possible detail. Among this model's most remarkable features are an articulating hinged opening canopy that closes with almost no visible gap and landing gear that has been constructed as subassemblies for easy configuration. It also includes a large number of pad-printed flight instruments and a rudder and engine intake that are accurately replicated in plastic. The models in this series cover early variants to the most advanced later variants featuring conformal fuel tanks as well as both single and two seat variants.

Info: F-16B Fighting Falcon - USN NSAWC, Black 04, USNFWS TOPGUN, NAS Fallon, NV, Naval Aviation 100th Anniversary 2011