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The story behind this all-gold F-16 – and 5 more new combat plane paint jobs you need to see

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One could argue that the F-16 Fighting Falcon plane doesn’t need any special paint job to be the coolest thing in the air. After all, the Viper, as pilots call it, is the world’s most popular fighter by number of planes in service around the world, and the ride of choice for the elite Air Force Thunderbirds. But when you see one sparkle in flawless all-gold, it somehow still hits differently. 

In July, 2022, in celebration of the Air Force’s 75th anniversary, the Iowa Air National Guard rolled out an F-16 with a fresh all-gold paint job and intricate details harking back to the state’s first gold heritage jet, unveiled in 1996. Like that 50th anniversary F-16, the new throwback jet has a striking glossy black radome, or nose cone, and the inscription “Pride of Siouxland” across the side. The original anniversary dates, 1946-1996, are printed on the ventral fins under the body of the plane. Unit emblems including a black bat with wings spread and a native American headdress bearing the words “Sioux City” can be found on the tail.

Golden F-16 plane paint job
A gold U.S. Air Force F-16A Falcon from the Iowa Air National Guard is on the ramp in Sioux City, Iowa on June 30, 2022. The jet is painted with commemorative anniversary paint scheme that replicates the unit’s 50th-anniversary gold jet as it appeared in 1996. The 2022 redesign of the 185th Air Refueling Wing static display was unveiled as the Air Force celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. (U.S. Air Force photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot)

The aircraft also carries multiple hat tips to Col. Dennis Swanstrom, the Iowa ANG 128th Air Refueling Wing commander who had the audacity to create the original all-gold fighter, even though special paint jobs for active planes were essentially unheard-of at the time.

“As the story goes, Swanstrom was a consummate promoter and didn’t always concern himself with particular rules if they got in the way of a good idea,” a Guard news release stated. “The unit’s 50th anniversary happens only once and for those who knew him, when Swany had a good idea, no amount of persuasion could convince him otherwise.”

And based on the hype the newly released gold F-16 is generating it appears history has proven Swany right. 

Elsewhere around the Air Force, fighter paint schemes have become an art form, with increasingly intricate and meaningful designs. Here are five more notable heritage designs in the last few years that you might have missed.

Related: America’s enemies can track stealth fighters on radar (and it isn’t a problem)

1) F-35 Aggressor Aircraft

Two F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have joined the newly reactivated 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and they’re sporting a fresh look. The unit, which maintains jets intended to simulate enemy fighters in combat scenarios, stood back up in June at a ceremony featuring a static F-35 in a subtle three-color camouflage carefully designed not to interfere with the 5th-generation fighter’s stealth coating. 

F-35 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada
Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, assumes command of the 65 AGRS during an activation ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The aggressor squadron acts as an opposing force in sorties by replicating enemy tactics, techniques and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Josey Blades)

The paint scheme, though limited so as to avoid compromising the F-35’s low-observable characteristics, is “reminiscent of both the Russian Su-57 Felon and Chinese J-20 fighters,” Air Force Magazine reported. The future look of these F-35 “red air” fighters has been the subject of lively speculation for years. In 2020, aviation artist Sean Hampton released seven artists’ renderings showing possible schemes that vividly simulated adversary aircraft. Among them were “The Wraith,” a black-and-red scheme apparently inspired by a Russian MiG and now in use on aggressor F-16s; and “Ghost,” an eye-catching pixelated blue-and-white theme imitating the Su-57 that has also been applied to the F-16.

F-35 jet plane paint jobs
The 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, and Lt. Col. Michael Albrecht, fly in a two-ship F-35A Lightning II formation from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35As were on their way to the Nevada Test and Training Range to participate in their inaugural training mission against F-15E Strike Eagles. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. The F-35s will be employed in large Combat Air Forces exercises, U.S. Air Force Weapons School missions, joint exercises, and operational test and evaluation events that are only conducted at Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)

One could argue that warpaint on the F-35 is a little beside the point; the fighter is designed to close on an enemy before the enemy even knows they’re in danger. But if the Air Force does choose to amp up the realism on its aggressor Joint Strike Fighters, it has plenty of options.

2) ‘POW’ A-10 Warthog

The Air Force’s beloved A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the Warthog, is a perennial favorite for flashy heritage paint jobs. But a special desert scheme unveiled in 2021 took on a whole new meaning. The Air Force’s A-10 demonstration team commissioned a retro green-and-tan “SouthEast Asia”-style paint scheme in tribute to Vietnam veterans and American prisoners of war. Like Air Force planes in the Vietnam war, the demo team’s A-10C featured patches of dark and light greens and dark tan on the upper surfaces and camouflage gray below.

An A-10 Thunderbolt plane with a paint job commemorating American pilots killed or captured in Vietnam
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 17, 2022. The A-10 Demonstration Team’s jet has a heritage paint job to pay tribute to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing’s contributions in the Vietnam War, including special dedication to personnel who were killed in action or became prisoners of war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)

On the right side of the plane are printed the names of the 97 airmen from the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing who were killed in action or held as POWs during the war. Like the A-10 demo team, the 335th is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

“The opportunity to fly an aircraft with a Vietnam War-era paint scheme is one I never thought I would have,” said Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam, the demonstration team commander, said in a statement.

An A-10 Thunderbolt plane with a paint job commemorating American pilots killed or captured in Vietnam
The U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, showcased a Vietnam-era SouthEast Asia (SEA) camouflage paint scheme at the Festival of Flight airshow onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, March 13, 2021. NAF El Centro supports combat training and readiness of the warfighter. This includes air operations support to operational fleet and training squadrons as well as squadrons from other services (Marine Corps, Army, Air Force) and international military partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Drew Verbis/Released)

“Every time I fly that aircraft it will have a special meaning to me, so giving the best and safest demonstrations at airshows is without question my priority. What is going to make that happen is the experience and professionalism we have as a team,” Fullam added.

The Vietnam heritage A-10 continues to fly in air shows this summer.

Related: Breaking out of a POW camp on a Russian helicopter

3) ‘Passionate Patsy’

In a sea of eye-catching combat aircraft paint schemes, the 310th Fighter Squadron’s flagship F-16 still manages to stand out. At the beginning of this year, the squadron from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, rolled out an homage to the World War II-era “Passionate Patsy” Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in honor of the squadron’s 80th anniversary.

An F-16 plane with the 'Passionate Petsy' paint job
The 310th Fighter Squadron’s newly painted F-16 Fighting Falcon is towed to the flight line Jan. 19, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Structural maintainers applied a paint scheme to match that of the World War II era 310th Fighter Squadron’s “Passionate Patsy” Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in celebration of the Air Education and Training Command’s 80th anniversary. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Busby)

Then part of the Army Air Corps and known as the 310th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), the unit flew P-47 escort fighters with a distinctive Army green body and a silver-and-red striped band around the nose. The nose itself was painted yellow and featured a dark-haired pinup girl in white heels: “Passionate Patsy.”

An F-16 plane with the 'Passionate Petsy' paint job
The 310th Fighter Squadron’s newly painted F-16 Fighting Falcon sits on display Jan. 19, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The 56th Corrosion Control Unit maintainers recreated the paint scheme in honor of the 310th’s legacy and in celebration of the Air Education and Training Command’s 80th anniversary. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Busby)

The tribute F-16 features the iconic stripes on the tail and a modified yellow band around the nose. It also has sleek blue-on-blue stripes on the body and the original Army green above the cockpit.

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4) A-10 ‘Blacksnake’

Staying with the anniversary theme, we have to pay tribute to the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing, which turned out a truly terrifying all-black A-10 in 2021 in honor of the 100th anniversary of aviation in the Indiana National Guard.

A-10 Blacksnakes
A black and grey U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II from the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing “Blacksnakes,” flying home on July 7, 2021. The A-10 is on its way back to Fort Wayne Ind. after being painted at the Air National Guard paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa. The paint scheme, a departure from the standard two-tone grey, was created by request in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of aviation in the Indiana National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot)

The “Blacksnakes,” as the unit is called, leaned fully into the theme, swapping out the A-10’s typical gray and adding a menacing snake head to the nose, including bared venomous teeth, a scaly face, and glowing hooded eyes.

According to a news release describing the paint job, the “Blacksnakes” nickname originated in the Revolutionary War. Anthony Wayne, an American general and founding father who would also be the namesake for Fort Wayne, Indiana, was called “Black Snake” by the Native Americans who saw him fight, the release said.

An A-10 with a blacksnake nose
Air National Guard Paint Facility technician, Paul Grigsby cleans up stenciling on the nose of a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II while in the paint booth at the Sioux City, Iowa-based Air National Guard Paint Facility on June 29, 2021. The aircraft from the 122nd Fighter Wing has been painted with a non-standard paint scheme in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of aviation in the Indiana National Guard. U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

“Wayne was known for a methodical fighting style where he instructed his soldiers to lie in wait for the right moment to strike, similar to the actions of a North American Black Snake,” the news release added.

The body of the A-10 also features a small checkered flag honoring the “Racers” of Indiana’s 181st Intelligence Wing.

5) Air Force jet honors a Marine

Finally, we turn to the South Dakota Air National Guard, which commemorated the Air Force’s 75th anniversary by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient from the Marine Corps. As it turns out, World War II Ace Capt. Joe Foss, though he flew for the Marines in combat, played a key role in establishing the air component of the South Dakota National Guard after returning home from war. As a guardsman, Foss became the first commander of the 114th Fighter Wing prior to serving as governor of South Dakota.

A blue and white F-16 from the 114th Fighter Wing, painted at the Air National Guard Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa was painted for the South Dakota Air Guard in commemoration of their 75th anniversary. The paint scheme was conceptualized to emulate the WWII-era Grumman F-4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota native and Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss who was instrumental in founding the South Dakota Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot)

“Today the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air Guard is located at Joe Foss field in Sioux Falls, named after the South Dakota native who became a United States Marine Corps flying Ace during the 2nd World War,” a release stated.

A blue and white F-16 from the 114th Fighter Wing, painted at the Air National Guard Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa was painted for the South Dakota Air Guard in commemoration of their 75th anniversary. The paint scheme featuring Mount Rushmore was conceptualized to emulate the WWII-era Grumman F-4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota native and Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss who was instrumental in founding the South Dakota Air National Guard. U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

The F-16 heritage jet honoring Foss is themed after the Grumman F-4F Wildcat he flew in combat. It features an azure body with white accents, a cartoon coyote with a machine gun on the tail flash, and a stylized depiction of the faces on Mount Rushmore in red on an underside panel.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on September 2022.

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Hope Seck

Hope Hodge Seck is an award-winning investigative and enterprise reporter who has been covering military issues since 2009. She is the former managing editor for Military.com.