Netherlands closes in on end of ‘Viper’ era

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will officially retire its surviving F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcon fighters from use on September 27, formally bringing more than 45 years of Dutch ‘Viper’ operations to an end, writes Kees van der Mark.For the occasion, a single-seat F-16AM (J-197, pictured) from No 312 Squadron at Volkel Air Base – the RNLAF’s last operational ‘Viper’ unit – gained special farewell tail markings in late May. Displayed on the F-16AM’s vertical stabilizer are the badges of