(Semi-fictional) Vipers over the Apeninnes

[ValAstur]

Italy has the Viper, but as a lend-lease contract since 2003. What if they got them earlier...

 

When the state on the Apeninne Peninsula sought a replacement for the aging fleet of Zippers, the Viper was not directly on the first line. The Aeronautica Militare was thinking about replacing the fighters with more Tornadoes; but sought for other suitable candidates. Options weren't that numerous. France offered it's Mirage 50 and F1 while Sweden made a point with Draken and Viggen. The military command wanted a single-engined jet. Since their good experiences with the Zipper and the reduced cost of maintenance in contrast to a double engined aircraft (such as the Panavia Tornado), Italy asked France, Sweden and the US (which brought the F-15 and F-16) for evaluation flights of their models. The F-15 got sorted out early. Though being a huge weapons platform with a lot of payload (compared to the other candidates), it simply had two engines.

The italian pilots brought the planes to their limits and were amazed how simple it was to fly the Viper, compared to the other aircraft. In early 1983, a contract was signed between the Reagan administration and the italian government, that allowed Aeritalia (the company, that already produced the 104S Starfighter for the A.M.I.) to build the aircraft under license.

The first F-16S (Block 15 OCU-Standard) made its maiden flight in 1984 and replacement of the Starfighters started in 1985 finishing the task at the end of 1987.

 

Aeritalia F-16S Falcon, 5° Stormo 23° Gruppo, 1985

 

6° Stormo, 154° Gruppo

 

I got the inspirations from these birds, which I found while searching for something else:

F-16C "CAMO 70's" AMI 5° Stormo 23° Gruppo (Fictional)

F-16C "CAMO 70's" AMI 6° Stormo 154° Gruppo (Fictional)

[+Wrench]

That looks SHARP! in the Euro camo!!

[+daddyairplanes]

very nice

now, where are the special paint jobs (inspired by corresponding RL Zipper special schemes)? 

[ValAstur]

8 hours ago, daddyairplanes said:

very nice

now, where are the special paint jobs (inspired by corresponding RL Zipper special schemes)? 

[+daddyairplanes]

hey, they did like to dress their birds up for special occasions.

[ValAstur]

Nice liveries. Would take me ages to get them fitting to the birds.

[+daddyairplanes]

mainly teasin ya. 

but it would be nice,  and even with Vipers teh Aeronautica Militare would still paint some up pretty

(from the ADF years)