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Description
F-16B-15-CF, 81-0815 assigned as the #8 aircraft, USAF Thunderbirds Aerial demonstration squadron based at Nellis AFB and seen at Luke AFB. Note the blue centerline tank on station 5 and the MAU-12 rack and travel pod on station 6.

The next major "Block" change for the F-16A/B aircraft was the "Block-15" aircraft.

These were built (for the USAF) in Fiscal Year 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The most visible change to the block 15 was the bigger stabilators that offered a greater pitch moment at high weights. The TE of the stabs is about eight inches or so longer than the ends of the speed brakes. There is also a clipped tip on the outboard TE of the stab.

Other visble changes were the addition of hardpoints on the sides of the inlet that would ultimately allow carriage of LANTIRN pads. The lower UHF antenna was moved from under the intake lip to between the ventral fins.
The black IFF antenna that was aft of the block 10 UHF antenna was redesigned and took the form of two small blade antennas under the nose, aft of the radome.

Also added was a small refueling flood light mounted on the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer near the tip. This looks like a small air data type probe on the fin, but it is only a fairing for the light bulb to illuminate the air refuel receptacle during night refueling ops. This feature was later retrofitted on the earlier F-16A/B acft.

The main generator was changed to a higher output system capable of operating better in a negative "G" environment. The aft fuselage and area aft of the cockpit was redesigned to make it capable of tolerating high G maneuvers better. This was an effect of major structural issues with the early Block 1's in service.

The Block 15 also had more advanced FCS software that allowed carriage of more advanced air to ground weapon systems. This SW load was eventually loaded into the Block 10 acft.

Description
F-16B-15-CF, 81-0815 assigned as the #8 aircraft, USAF Thunderbirds Aerial demonstration squadron based at Nellis AFB and seen at Luke AFB. Note the blue centerline tank on station 5 and the MAU-12 rack and travel pod on station 6.

The next major "Block" change for the F-16A/B aircraft was the "Block-15" aircraft.

These were built (for the USAF) in Fiscal Year 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The most visible change to the block 15 was the bigger stabilators that offered a greater pitch moment at high weights. The TE of the stabs is about eight inches or so longer than the ends of the speed brakes. There is also a clipped tip on the outboard TE of the stab.

Other visble changes were the addition of hardpoints on the sides of the inlet that would ultimately allow carriage of LANTIRN pads. The lower UHF antenna was moved from under the intake lip to between the ventral fins.
The black IFF antenna that was aft of the block 10 UHF antenna was redesigned and took the form of two small blade antennas under the nose, aft of the radome.

Also added was a small refueling flood light mounted on the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer near the tip. This looks like a small air data type probe on the fin, but it is only a fairing for the light bulb to illuminate the air refuel receptacle during night refueling ops. This feature was later retrofitted on the earlier F-16A/B acft.

The main generator was changed to a higher output system capable of operating better in a negative "G" environment. The aft fuselage and area aft of the cockpit was redesigned to make it capable of tolerating high G maneuvers better. This was an effect of major structural issues with the early Block 1's in service.

The Block 15 also had more advanced FCS software that allowed carriage of more advanced air to ground weapon systems. This SW load was eventually loaded into the Block 10 acft.