A flightline packed with F-16's used to be a very common sight back in the days. Unfortunately aging airframes, budget cuts and deployments abroad only leave Volkel airbase with a few flyable F-16's these days. Currently 18 airframes are stored at Volkel, maintained in flyable condition and being readied for a possible sale to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniy). For one last time, the base personell managed to put all (but two) airframes normally tucked away in base hangars out onto the flightline for a unique photoshoot. Unfortunately the weather was a bit foggy and hazy at first, but around 11.30 the sun came out to play.

In earlier days (2006) a first batch of 6x F-16's was sold to Jordan all being F-16BM (Block 20 MLU) models. Deliveries were postponed until 2009 when the 6 ordered jets finally left Leeuwarden airbase to their new home base on 28th of July under the delivery program name Peace Falcon IV. These F-16's were J-267, J-269, J-270, J-650, J-653 and J-654 becoming respectively c/n 130 to 135 in Jordanian service based at the As Shaheed Muwaffaq al Salti AB (al-Azraq).

In 2011 another mayor cutback in Defence spending resulted in the decommissioning of 19x F-16 and the disbandment of 311 Sqn after roughly 60 years of service. Of these, 15 would be optioned for sale and the remaining 4 used for spares recoveries. In 09/2013 the Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert informed the Lower House that 15x F-16 and 52 Maverick air-to-ground missiles were sold to Jordan. Deliveries were intended to start in 2015, but were delayed to 2017. As of April 2017, the first jets are starting to be prepared (painted with new Jordanian markings) for delivery to Jordan. For the record these jets are identified as J-057, J-145, J-193, J-199, J-623, J-637, J-638, J-641, J-868, J-870, J-872, J-873, J-876, J-208, J-884.

The author would like to thank SGV and airbase crew for their hospitality and efforts in making this event happen.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force acquired a total of 213 F-16 Fighting Falcons over the years. The first F-16 was delivered on 7th of june 1979 in the form of dual seater J-259 at Leeuwarden Air Base. In total 177x F-16A and 36x F-16B were delivered to the RNlAF. In the glory days, no less than 9 squadrons were equipped with the Viper, and an additional trainingsquadron was in the USA for the OCU role (part of the 148th Fighter Wing at Tucson IAP, Arizona). Currently (end year 2019) only 60 jets remain in service. with the F-35 entering operational life within the RNlAF the days of the mighty Viper are counted.