Netz 107
Netz 107 |
|
Netz 107 on display during Israel Independence Day |
Type |
General Dynamics F-16A block 10 Fighting Falcon (Netz) |
Serial |
107 |
First flight |
1980 |
Owners and operators |
Israeli Air Force / IDF/AF |
In service |
2 July 1980 |
Last flight |
2015 |
Preserved at |
Preserved on display at the Israeli Air Force Museum. |
Netz 107 is a General Dynamics F-16A block 10 Fighting Falcon of the Israeli Air Force, tail number 107, which has an illustrious combat record. Netz 107 participated in Operation Opera, bombing the Osiraq nuclear reactor and was also later credited with 6.5 enemy aircraft kills, a world record number of kills for F-16 aircraft.[1]
Operational Service
The first F-16A/B Netz fighters arrived in Israel during 1980 and were issued to 117 Squadron (Israel) of the Israeli Air Force. The Netz 107 was the first F-16 to touch Israeli soil when it landed on 2 July 1980, at Ramat David Airbase.
In 7 June 1981 the Netz 107 took part in Operation Opera, piloted by Amos Yadlin, being second F-16 to bomb the Osiraq nuclear reactor, after the wing leader Zeev Raz.
The Netz 107 recorded is first airborne kill in 21 April 1982 when the pilot Zeev Raz shot down a MiG-23 warplane of the Syrian Air Force. During Operation Peace for Galilee it shot down 6 more Syrian aircraft. On 9 June 1982, Eliezer Shkedi shot down two MiG-23s, but one was shared with another pilot. On Friday 11 June 1982 pilot Eithan Stiva shot down four Syrian aircraft.
Several years later Netz 107 was re-allocated to 253 Squadron (Israel) along with other F-16A/Bs.
In 2015 Netz 107 was retired from service and put on display at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
Kills
Gallery
Netz 107 |
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| The Kill markings on the nose of Netz 107 |
| Netz 107 on display during Israeli Independence Day celebrations |
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References
External links