Nellis F-16A Fighting Falcon #80-0600 3/30/12
Read MoreOn January 12, 1983 the F-16A Fighting Falcon #80-0600 call sign Cobra 32 piloted by Capt Peter L. Jones, departed Nellis AFB, Nevada at 11:12am as the wingman of a two ship flight. The mission was a Fighter Weapons School one vs one continuation training sortie and was the first flight of the day for both pilots. While proceeding to the Alamo training area each pilot accomplished a system check. Two offensive engagements were flown uneventful. The third engagement began from a four to five nautical mile butterfly set-up with number one turning to the south and number two turning to the north. They passed left to left 180 degrees out at 18,000 to 19,000 feet MSL and approximately 3000 to 4000 feet line abreast. Number one started a left climbing turn and noted Cobra 32 begin a slice to the left. Number one increased his turn and observed a fireball as Cobra 32 impacted the ground. The pilot was killed when he did not eject from his steeply diving aircraft.
I didn't have a clue what this part was until I was looking through a book to indemnify some other parts that I found at the site. I just happen to see a Sidewinder missile mounted on a F-16 and noticed the part looked like one of the things that are on the missile's wings. Turns out it's called a rolleron. It's a hinged control surface, the wheel is spun by the air flow and it's gyroscopic motion counteracts the missile's tendency to roll. I've seen these on Sidewinder photos before, but never knew what they were.