The Chilean F-16 that “shot down” a British Sea Harrier

Originally an F-16A “Block 15” purchased in the mid-1980s by the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force), the aircraft was participating in a dissimilar air combat training exercise on 09/19/1996 when it collided in mid-air with Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD580/’710′ over the English Channel near Portland. Although both aircraft recovered safely to Naval Air Station Yeovilton in the United Kingdom, only the F-16 was repaired after loosing part of the port stabilizer and returned to regular service.

In another bizarre event, in the 1987 Christmas holiday, the aircraft was taken over by mice which climbed up into the wheelbays and ate their way through wiring insulation deep inside the jet and got it almost nine months grounded for repairs, earning it the nick name “Raus Maus” (Mice Out) which was applied to its ventral fins for the remainder of that decade.

Upgraded to “Block 20” configuration in a mid-life update (MLU) program in 2002 and withdrawn from service circa 2006, it soon found a new home when purchased by Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACH, Chilean Air Force) under US-sponsored project “Puma Amstel”, flying to Antofagasta in 04/2007 to join Grupo de Aviación No.8.

In its nearly 15-year career in South America, the aircraft is known to have been involved in at least six “Gran Parada Militar” (Great Military Parade) events (09/2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018) and the Bicentennial Naval Review held in Valparaíso in 09/2010.

Landing after the Gran Parada Militar alongside F-16B 736 (photo: Carlos Ay, 09/1/2013).

Wearing 313 “Tiger” Squadron markings (photo: Carl Brent, 1980s).

Wearing low-viz 314 Squadron markings while on deployment to Scotland (photo: Mark McEwan, 02/25/1994).

Exercising over Atacama desert (photo: Ces-Jaan van der Ende, 08/12/2009).

Returning to Arturo Merino Benítez after Chile’s Centennial Great Military Parade (photo: Carlos Ay, 09/19/2010).

Wearing 323 Squadron markings while on a deplyoment to Denmark (photo: Kurt Saxkjaer).

Wearing 314 Squadron full-color marks (photo: Jan Eenling, 08/1995).

Flying over Atacama desert in full Grupo 8 markings (photo Fernando Deocares, date unknown).

Taxiing half way through its Netherlands to Chile ferry (photo: Normando Carvalho, Jr., 04/07/2007).

Taking off for the FACH anniversay flypast (photo: Luis Quintana A., 03/21/2019).

Variants:

F-16A-15X (Lockheed c/n: 6D-129, Fokker’s: L-235), F-16A-20 “MLU” (circa 2002).

Identities:

USAF 85-0139 (1985, nominal), KLU J-139 (10/1987), FACH 731 (09/2006).

Operators:

Netherlands: 313 Squadron, 314 Squadron (1990), 322 Squadron (1995), 323 Squadron (1996), 311 Squadron (1999), 312 Squadron (2000), 306 Squadron (2002), 323 Squadron (2003), 313 Squadron (2004) and 311 Squadron (2005). Chile: Grupo 8 (04/2007).

Fate:

Last noted in Pudahuel on 03/21/2019 while participating in that year’s FACH anniversary ceremony.