F-16 Falcon USAF ThunderbirdsF 16 Thunderbird airplane model. In an air combat role, the F 16's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air to surface role, the F 16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy,