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. Netz 107 participated in Operation Opera, bombing the Osiraq nuclear reactor, and was later credited with 6.5 enemy aircraft kills, a world record number of kills for an F-16.[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. Netz 107 was the first F-16 to touch Israeli soil when it landed on 2 July 1980 at Ramat David Airbase.

On 7 June 1981 Netz 107 took part in Operation Opera, piloted by Amos Yadlin, and was the second F-16 to strike the Osiraq nuclear reactor after wing leader Zeev Raz.

Netz 107 scored its first aerial kill on 21 April 1982 when pilot Zeev Raz shot down a Syrian Air Force MiG-23. During Operation Peace for Galilee it shot down 6 more Syrian aircraft. On 9 June 1982, Eliezer Shkedi shot down two MiG-23s, although 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 it was retired from service and put on display at the Israeli Air Force Museum.

Kills

Date Pilot Weapon Shot down aircraft
21 April 1982 Zeev Raz AIM-9 Sidewinder Syrian MiG-23
9 June 1982 Eliezer Shkedi AIM-9 Sidewinder Syrian MiG-23 (shared kill)
9 June 1982 Eliezer Shkedi AIM-9 Sidewinder Syrian MiG-23
11 June 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM-9 Sidewinder Syrian MiG-23
11 June 1982 Eithan Stiva AIM-9 Sidewinder Syrian Sukhoi Su-22
11 June 1982 Eithan Stiva M61A1 Vulcan gun Syrian Sukhoi Su-22
11 June 1982 Eithan Stiva missile Syrian Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter

References

  1. ↑ Record-breaking F-16 Falcon to be retired from IDF service, ynet, 11.2.2015
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