Let’s have a look at a unique F-16 variant, the F16I SUFA Fighting Falcon by Academy and see what they have in store for us in this 1/32 scale kit!

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Summary

1. The History of The F16I SUFA Fighting Falcon
2. What is Inside Academy: F16I SUFA Fighting Falcon
3. Watch The Unboxing and Kit Review

Background on the F16I SUFA Fighting Falcon

In 2001, Israel commissioned Lockheed Martin to make a custom F-16 with enhanced capabilities for the Israeli Defense Force. The result? A sophisticated weapon named the F16I Sufa. "Sufa" which directly translates into "Storm" or "Tempest" in Hebrew is a fitting title for this lethal machine.

F-16 fighter jets have an absolutely sterling combat record, every country that has used them sings their praises for their combat performance. This variant is no different; the Sufa is a multi-role fighter jet that can fight in both air-to-air and ground combat with extremely high maneuverability. It was first launched in December of 2003, and at present, the F16I serves as one of Israel's most valuable assets when it comes to aerial combat, and it will surely be remembered for its valiant service in years to come.

What Do You Get?

Academy’s F-16I Sufa is an advanced 1/32 scale model kit with a lot of pieces. It is definitely not for beginners, but it can pose an exciting challenge to those willing to take it on. Now let’s check out the individual pieces, shall we?

The Fuselage

The fuselage has all the traditional shapes of the F-16, a body that is clearly built for high speed and agility in air-to-air combat. In its cockpit, the Sufa operates with the pilot in front and the weapons operator at the back. The F-16I’s cockpit has an enhanced weapon system, and the underside has a big air intake running on just a single engine. All the panels are very nicely done, with fabulous little details and indentations that give it such a nice touch. 

Bits and Pieces

Sprue A

We have the bulkheads here for the inside of the aircraft along with parts of the seat, the engine, and the cockpit. The Sufa's seats are lower than those of most fighter jets, allowing the pilot to better withstand g-forces. In the cockpit, unlike most fighter jets at the time, the F16I had the throttle on the left and the control stick on the right, allowing the pilot's hands to be on either side, making it easier to handle when flying at high speeds.

There is also the instrumentation for the inside and some of the control surfaces with parts of the air scoops that would go where the air intake would be.

Sprue B 

For this sprue, we have the turkey feathers that are placed at the back of the plane where the exhaust comes out from the engine. And speaking of the engine, we also have more of its turbine blades and internals, which are very, very nice. 

Then, we have the ECM (Electronic Countermeasure) pod and more of the optical pods that are placed on the exterior of the F16I for ground targets and forward-looking infrared. You can also find some of the warning sensors and missile jammers that would go at the front of the plane—all the bits and pieces that make it so lethal.

Sprue C

Here is one of the things that stands out about the F16I: the dorsal hump. It goes from the back of the cockpit all the way down to where the tail plane is. The dorsal hump allowed the Sufa to have more ECM technology and avionics, which improved its performance beyond the plane's visual range engagement capability. With these additions, the F16I can launch missiles 30% further than previous versions of the F-16, successfully enhancing the plane's capabilities.

The Crew

The crew being included in the kit is always a great touch, especially since Academy typically does not include the crew from their model kits, so this is a pleasant surprise. It is available in two versions: a standing one for when they are outside the aircraft and a seated version for when they are inside the aircraft and flying it.

Large Sprue A

In this sprue, we can find the splitter plate, parts of the air intake and the air brakes. It also has one of the most essential parts of a plane: the landing gear. Once again, the details are beautiful and the parts are superbly molded.

Large Sprue B

At the bottom right, we can see the F16I’s 460-gallon conformal fuel tanks, which, surprisingly, do not hinder the plane’s maneuverability. There are also the sensory pods and parts of the plane’s tail, more of the control surfaces, and the F16I’s internal gun that goes over the firing port. Then, we have the remaining parts of the seat, some of the instrumentation for the inside of the cockpit, and the heads-up display for both the pilot and weapon system operator.

Wings & Tail

Here we have rather essential components of the aircraft: its wings along with parts of the tail. The panels have incredible detailing; you can see every single tiny rivet in each one, and they are all indented as well. Indented details are always better; they stand out much more when painted with a wash on a panel, making the model that much more realistic.

Weapons

Sprue A

The Sufa has a very impressive weapon payload; it has over 7,000 kilograms of pure lethality, and we can see some of those weapons here. There are basic iron bombs, a huge laser-guided bomb, an external tank, and the Python missile: a short-range, heat-seeking missile that the Israeli military industry personally designed.

Sprue B

For this weapon sprue, we have the sidewinder, another short-range heat-seeking missile, the HARM (High-speed Anti-radar Missile), and laser-guided bombs, along with the control surfaces that are needed to guide the weapons in flight.

The Decals

The camouflage scheme on the Israeli aircraft and the markings for its unit and squadron are unique to this custom plane, so its decals are definitely something to look forward to.

Final Thoughts

The 1/32 scale F-16I SUFA Fighting Falcon by Academy is an awesome kit. This scale model will make an excellent present for a very serious model maker. It’s a big and beautiful plane with a lot of highly detailed pieces, and Academy has done a truly excellent job in creating this kit. Will you take on their challenge?

Watch The Unboxing and Build Review

Watch as BJ unbox and show you everything inside the Academy: 1/32 F16I SUFA Fighting Falcon

What do you want us to unbox next? Feel free to message us with your ideas! 

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