Military Delivery Flights

[cancidas]

i was curious, why are F-16s under delivery flown under USAF markings? are they actually flown by USAF pilots until handed over to the delivery country?


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[moose135]

Usually for foreign military sales, the company doesn't deal directly with the government involved, they sell them to the US government, who then completes the sale to the foreign government. I don't know if it is USAF pilots, or manufacturer pilots flying, but until they are delivered, they don't belong to the foreign government, so they will carry US markings - usually with the receiving air force's markings covered over. It can also help politically to have a "US" aircraft transit some countries, rather than one in the markings of the recipient.

[PhilDernerJr]

Or imagine a foreign military fighter jet flying over the US and other countries enroute....MIGHT cause some trouble.

[Nick]

There's the first plane I worked on, although these newer models are much different. Amazing how they can keep cramming new stuff in these Jets to keep them relevant.