Stunning Video Lets You Pretend You're Riding Along in an F-16 With the 'Flying Fiends

We've seen the perspective of F-15 fighter pilots barreling at dizzying speeds through the air and what it looks like to take off -- and land -- on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean in an F/A-18. Now we're getting a peek into what it's like to fly an F-16 along with the U.S. Air Force's 36th Fighter Squadron Flying Fiends. 

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

The aircraft dubbed "Viper" by many pilots is actually formally nicknamed the Flying Falcon. It took on Viper because of its looks. F-16.net recounted Lt. Col. Pat "Gums" McAdoo thoughts on how it got this more unofficial nickname:

At end of runway, the F-16 did resemble a cobra or something as it approached you. However, I think Northrop had already taken that name for the YF-17.

We all voted, and Viper came in really high. Seems there was a series on TV that had 'colonial Vipers' flying off of Battlestar Galactica (a term later used for the Eagle).

In any case, the Generals didn't want a plane 'named after some snake'!

Falcon was a good name, and it fit in with the motif that the Eagle had created. Sort of a little brother, but still a 'Bird of Prey'. In fact, GD had a great promo out in late 70's called "Bird of Prey", and it used the Falcon as the real world model.

The footage uploaded by the YouTube user wattsissimo last week isn't officially dated, but we can glean that wattsissimo has some experience with the planes based on the advice he gave another user who aspired to become a fighter pilot. 

(Image: YouTube screenshot) (Image: YouTube screenshot)

"It is a fun job, that's for sure. The first step is become an officer. There are programs as an enlisted AF member, or if you already have a bachelor's you can apply for OTS. After that, get a pilot slot, then work your butt off to get fighters. Last step, is mostly pure luck and good timing," wattsisimo wrote. 

"HARRUMPH!!" he said in the description. 

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Watch the clip (Bonus around 2:00 you can see the amazing way the aircraft fuels up in the air and at 2:21 and 3:03 the pilot drops some sort of bomb):

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Related:

• The Amazing Video Shot by F-15 Fighter Pilots Using GoPro Cameras That You Probably Haven't Seen
• Awesome New Vid: See What It's Like to Jet Off an Aircraft Carrier From This F/A-18 Pilot's Perspective
• We Sat Down With 'America's Most Experienced' F-16 Pilot: Here's What We Found Out