Farewell Orange Jumper: The RNLAF's one-of-a-kind F-16 test vehicle

Feature

The Royal Netherlands Air Force is getting set to say goodbye to its one-of-a-kind Lockheed Martin F-16BM (MLU) Fighting Falcon test vehicle, as Gert Kromhout explains.

The F-16 community is about to lose a valuable test vehicle. The unique Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF)- operated F-16BM, serial J-066, nicknamed Orange Jumper will retire soon. Over the past two decades, this two-seat fighter with its orange tail emblem featuring a kangaroo has supported several test programmes for European F-16 users, the US Air Force (USAF) and manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It conducted its last big mission last April.

Orange Jumper [Frank Crébas]
Almost clean configured close to the island of Texel in the north of the Netherlands. Note the orange tips on the three missile stations, which contain special test equipment. Frank Crébas

 

Orange appeal

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Originally published in AirForces Monthly Magazine

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