Brazil could be adding F-16s and remembering a historic ferry flight
Despite acquiring Gripens recently, Brazil is looking to add vipers into the mix and remembering a historic flight across the Atlantic
“You don’t concentrate on risks. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.”
-Chuck Yeager
Mission Briefing
F-16: A Timeless Fighter Still Making Waves
Janes, a respected source for defense news and analysis, has revealed that Brazil is in negotiations to acquire 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons. This news highlights the enduring relevance and utility of the F-16 in today's global military landscape. While only Chile and Venezuela currently operate F-16s in South America, and Argentina has just finalized a deal to buy 24 retired Danish F-16s, Brazil’s interest in the F-16 underscores its continued appeal. Despite the US Air Force no longer purchasing new F-16s, the fighter's list of export customers keeps growing.
Brazil to Purchase Second-Hand F-16s
The Brazilian Air Force is seeking to bolster its modest strike capabilities. Currently, Brazil is gradually receiving 40 Gripen fighters from Sweden, a deal valued at over $5 billion. While more Gripens were expected, the potential purchase of F-16s has come as a surprise, possibly driven by budget constraints. Brazil has previously operated French-built Mirage 2000s, which were replaced by F-5EM Tiger II light fighters, and maintains a fleet of AMX International ground-attack aircraft set to retire by the end of 2025. According to Janes, negotiations for the F-16s are still in the early stages, but a decision is anticipated by the end of 2024.
Exploring US Second-Hand F-16s
Aeroflap reported that the Brazilian Air Force is interested in acquiring second-hand F-16s from the United States and is currently collecting data for a feasibility study. However, it remains unclear which specific F-16s Brazil might purchase. The F-16 continues to be produced in the US as the upgraded F-16 Block 70/72 variant, exclusively for export. Countries like Ukraine, Argentina, and Romania are receiving retired F-16 A/B Falcons from Denmark and Norway, while Bulgaria, Turkey, and Slovakia are opting for brand new F-16 Block 70/72s.
The US Air Force also has many retired F-16s, with plans to retire 11 more this year. These retired aircraft are typically stored at the vast boneyard at Davis-Monthan, Arizona, and eventually retrofitted as target drones or remotely operated test platforms. Recently, the US Air Force has repurposed retired F-16s into "zombie drones" for developing loyal wingman drones for the NGAD 6th-generation fighter.
Conclusion
The F-16's ongoing relevance and utility in the global military arena cannot be overstated. Its adaptability, proven performance, and the continuous upgrades it receives make it a valuable asset for air forces worldwide. Brazil's potential acquisition of F-16s is a testament to this fighter's enduring legacy and its critical role in maintaining air superiority in an ever-evolving defense landscape.
This week in aviation history
Historic Milestone: Jackie Cochran’s Pioneering Flight Across the Atlantic
From June 17 to 19, 1941, Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Cochran became the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic Ocean. She ferried a Lockheed Hudson from Canada to Scotland, a twin-engine Lockheed Model 414 Hudson Mk V (LR), identified as AM790 (Lockheed serial number 414-2872).
In the early days of World War II, Lord Beaverbrook of the United Kingdom and Major General Henry Harley (“Hap”) Arnold of the United States Army Air Forces recognized the critical need for all available pilots, including civilian women. Jackie Cochran, a renowned record-setting pilot, was chosen to demonstrate that women could pilot military aircraft in non-combat roles.
Cochran had previously served as a Flight Captain with the Royal Air Force Air Transport Auxiliary. After six months, she returned to the United States at the request of General Arnold to join his staff.
For this significant ferry flight, Captain Edgar Grafton Carlisle, Jr., was assigned as Cochran’s navigator, with a radio operator named Coates also on board. Despite initial concerns from Royal Canadian Air Force authorities about her physical capability to operate the Hudson’s hand brakes, Cochran was allowed to fly as First Officer, with Captain Carlisle handling takeoffs and landings.
The journey began on June 17 at 19:20 GMT from Montréal, Québec, reaching Gander, Newfoundland, after flying 931 miles (1,498 kilometers) in 5 hours and 4 minutes. They departed the next evening at 18:57 GMT, embarking on the 2,122-mile (3,415 kilometers) flight across the North Atlantic.
In her autobiography, Cochran described the tense moments of the flight:
"Flying the ocean at night didn’t mean much. We were above an overcast and hardly saw water. But just before daylight, we were heard or spotted by radar and suddenly through the darkness tracer bullets came up in front and around us. There was sudden consternation on board. Carlisle rushed up to me and the radio operator came running out of his compartment with his Very pistol. He opened a hatch and by firing a certain colored bullet gave the signal of the day but this really served no purpose because the light could not have been seen from the surface of the water anyway and the firing at us was probably coming from a German submarine or one of our own friendly ships. I thought maybe the pilots in the mass meeting in Montreal were right after all and the Germans were going to make a test case of me. Anyway, the tracer bullets stopped almost as soon as they started and no noticeable damage was done to the plane. After daylight, a hole opened up in the overcast and we saw a ship burning at sea, but could do nothing about it except to make a report by radio because we had no fuel to spare to enable us to go down and cruise around. Then we caught sight of the coast of Ireland in the distance and it kept creeping up on us and growing larger and larger and more friendly. From off the coast of Ireland to Prestwick, Scotland, was a tortuous air route. The route went one way and then another—without any real pattern—and the route was changed daily to make it difficult for enemy planes or submarines to intercept. At the end of twelve hours, we came to a stop on the runway. Carlisle, under the regulation, made the landing."
— *The Stars at Noon*, Jacqueline Cochran, 1954.
They landed at Prestwick, Scotland, at 06:05 GMT on June 19, completing the flight in 11 hours and 8 minutes.
This groundbreaking flight was a prelude to Cochran’s later achievements, including the formation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
The Lockheed Hudson, developed from the Model 14 Super Electra civil transport and designed by the legendary Clarence L. (“Kelly”) Johnson, played a crucial role during the war. The Hudson Mk.V was equipped with powerful Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines, capable of a cruise speed of 220 miles per hour and a maximum speed of 246 miles per hour. It was armed with multiple .303 Browning Machine Guns and could carry bombs or rockets under its wings.
Hudson AM790 served with distinction in No. 500 and No. 608 Squadrons of the Coastal Command, Royal Air Force, showcasing the versatility and reliability of this remarkable aircraft.
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-Tog