"Glen in Orlando" > wrote in message
ng.com...
>
>
>
I heard or read somewhere that the name 'Viper' is an unofficial name given
to the Falcon now by pilots who watched "Battlestar Galactica" as children,
or is it named DIRECTLY after snakes?

Dr.Smith wrote:

> I heard or read somewhere that the name 'Viper' is an unofficial name given
> to the Falcon now by pilots who watched "Battlestar Galactica" as children,
> or is it named DIRECTLY after snakes?

The beaurocrats took far too long to decide on a name, and the pilots
flying the so-far-unnamed fighter took to calling it "Viper", after the
fighters used by the good guys on the then-current show, Battlestar
Galactica. The F-16 with its sidestick, laid-back seat and fly-by-wire
seemed futuristic, and the name fitted.

It was eighteen months after the plane went into service that the
official name "Fighting Falcon" was bestowed.

"Alan Dicey" > wrote in message
o.uk...
> Dr.Smith wrote:
>
>> I heard or read somewhere that the name 'Viper' is an unofficial name given
>> to the Falcon now by pilots who watched "Battlestar Galactica" as
>> children, or is it named DIRECTLY after snakes?
>
> The beaurocrats took far too long to decide on a name, and the pilots flying
> the so-far-unnamed fighter took to calling it "Viper", after the fighters
> used by the good guys on the then-current show, Battlestar Galactica. The
> F-16 with its sidestick, laid-back seat and fly-by-wire seemed futuristic,
> and the name fitted.
>
> It was eighteen months after the plane went into service that the official
> name "Fighting Falcon" was bestowed.

And those of us who had to do aircraft recognition testing cursed the wonks
who came up with it -- it took too long to write it down when you were doing
a/c recce.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)

Andrew Chaplin wrote:

>
> And those of us who had to do aircraft recognition testing cursed the wonks
> who came up with it -- it took too long to write it down when you were doing
> a/c recce.

Well, GD wanted to use "Falcon" in 1977, but Dassault were already
making a bizjet with that name. By dithering, the penpushers
effectively ruined any chance of the name sticking, as it was in service
and referred to as "F-16" for too long. Only a strong name would have
stood any chance of displacing the general acceptance of "F-16", and
"Fighting Falcon" isn't strong enough. "Viper" stood a chance, but
wasn't supported.

Even today I don't see the F-16 referred to by name - any name. Hornets
are usually Hornets and not F-18's. Eagles can be F-15's or Eagles.
But I don't see F-16's referred to as Falcons and never Fighting Falcons
outside of reference books.