Skilled F-16 Crew Chief and Pilot Flash Weird Hand Signals Before Takeoff

Welcome back to The Daily Aviation for a feature on the Viper, the US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the incredible capability of this 4th generation fighter aircraft.
Footage Credit: U.S. Air Force / NATO / U.S. Marine Corps ,Derivative Work by The Daily Aviation
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[@luvtheus]

I'm a retired F-16 Crew Chief and must say it's a love/hate relationship with these birds. I've got stitches in my head and hands from "Falcon bites". As a dedicated crew chief I was able to score a couple rides in my bird at the end of a couple TDY'S overseas. Gotta say that the only thing can can beat a vertical takeoff in full burner would be a liftoff of the space shuttle. Yes, it is THAT INTENSE. These F-16 pilots must be in top condition in order to withstand 9 plus G's during maneuvering. I've had to help many pilots out of the cockpit after a return from a long mission due to exhaustion and fatigue. It takes a lot stamina to do what they do. Remember, these are the best of the best (and they know it). BTW, the last "Top Gun" movie sucked. Tom Cruise would have been court marshaled in real life.

[@mandyebarber3889]

How long did you fly for? That’s so interesting

[@luvtheus]

Hi Mandy. I only got to fly a few times in our "D" model which is a two seater. My job was to maintain the aircraft and keep it "ready to launch" in a moments notice. I did not crew jets my entire time in the Air Force. Before retirement I was a "crew chief" behind a desk heading up training at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. You know, kind of a winding down job, which is just what I needed. Being a crew chief IS a love/hate relationship between you and your bird. So no, I wasn't a pilot but only a lowly wrench turner and glorified gas station attendant and tire kicker. John. P.S. Thanks for the question and reply!@@mandyebarber3889

[@montanacrone8984]

Some day, (sigh).

[@JB-wp3qc]

I understand and feel your love/hate relationship. Crewing an F-4E Phantom ll I got my fair share of Phantom bites and later F-15E Eagle bites from the AIM 7 ejectors. But all was forgiven with riding backseat (questionably authorized) ZULU alert launch. But Supervisor/Tecnician of the year got me a ride in an F-15E and took control of the stick for 2 1/2 hours over the Bavarian Alps.

[@luvtheus]

Roger that! I've never had the pleasure of an F-15 of any model but can tell you that an f-16 is all I need. I was actually in control from the back of our D model over the Med Sea near the Syrian border when we got a ground radar lock x2 during the Gulf war in 91. God all Mighty that was exciting! Thanks for your service Brother! - John@@JB-wp3qc

[@janadogan-qy7ci]

Thank you for your service to our country. Such discipline, this is breathtaking.

[@jazzy8084]

Being an australian loved watching this video. God bless all those who serve and protect our countries.

[@louiserawle8999]

As a fellow Aussie I fully agree.❤

[@bo0tsy1]

Bless Anzac

[@joanknotts2764]

These maneuvers are difficult everyone plays a role it's a true commitment day in and out so proud of these men and women lowa

[@bjeanniebingham9403]

It is one of the coolest video I’ve ever seen!! My husband was a pilot and I sure wish he was here to watch this with me but I am sure where he is he really doesn’t miss this. He is alive and well in heaven with his loving King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ!!!

[@margueritefan2797]

I luv being in the cockpit of these fighters... it feels right! Thanks for your service.

[@AngelaJames-jr2lo]

Love

[@AngelaJames-jr2lo]

❤ CREW, SHOULD BE RESPECTED, AND RECOGNIZE OFTEN❤! LOVE YOU FOREVER. THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SEND YOU FLYING! PROUD OF YOU BOTH ❤. LOVE

[@robertwilkins8357]

Keep up these great videos please, i was lucky enough to be in the Air Force just an A2c. I didnt see any of this so down at 83 its great to see what our good warriors do.

[@jennifercapintog8732]

I salute to all soldiers in the whole world ❤

[@ЛюдмилаДоля-н6б]

Как же я уважаю и люблю этих людей!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@reneehey123]

God Bless military all over the world that works with US. You are the best. Stay Safe!🙏🏻

[@linaaiello1157]

Solo quelli che collaborono con gli stati uniti? Gl'altri sono da aniettare? Fare guerre x importare la democrazia non regge più dopo quello che vi siete lasciati alle spalle. Ogni tanto parlate di pace e di rispetto anche x altre nazioni che hanno stili di vita diverse, non potete omologare tutti a vostra immagine e somiglianza, non sempre esemplari. Benedico tutti i piloti 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👏

[@taraann7753]

These Planes and pilots are simply amazing 😮.

[@wrmlm37]

The idea of those covered stretchers is WHY I love our military so much. We must be able to deter threat before so many beautiful young lives are wasted. That broke me, those stretchers and the men safely carrying them.

[@LoriAnderson-o2m]

It's good to see but lm pretty sure it said it was training

[@katrinka8038]

Wow this is full of so many things to watch and learn. I get chills watching it. Bless the men and women who go through all the training to keep us safe.🤗😇

[@utzspax6119]

I love the handsigns, the dances and especially the Thriller crawl...😅

[@robinlowney9171]

Oh yeahhhh

[@howardtreesong4860]

The C17 is such a joyfurl and precocious aircraft 🙂

[@elizabethnisotis334]

Absolutely beautiful 😍 I love “birds”.

[@amaliacocco553]

These guys ar amazing wit these handsignsespecially with there dances i love you guys❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤you are beautiful

[@AngelaJames-jr2lo]

You make my heart ❤ So happy! Miss my SMSGT James everyday! Married 35years! 2 kids, 7grandkids. He met 6. We now have3 great grankidsand 1 cooking! A boy !❤ Military wife forever Angie ❤😂❤😊

[@nancyb4221]

It's mind-boggling that anything that big and heavy can get off the ground. God bless our wonderful. military...

[@yamama7265]

I can't even imagine the stress and concentration when they're up there refilling a jet prayers to all our military

[@happycook6737]

I get motionsick watching this video. I'm so thankful for these brave airmen and airwomen.

[@Isabelino-oo7freedom]

Unexplicable 😮Absolutelly outstanding hoooyeah great done. Thanks salute & CarrieOn. Dale 🍁

[@nancyb4221]

Loved the description of what was being done

[@robertwilkins8357]

I think just how great it would have been born to be apart of those great people and what they learned to put what they can do.

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

I wish I had joined the Navy. All my family on both sides were Navy in WW2 and Korean Conflict. I loved listening to them talk about their military life.

[@robertwilkins8357]

I believe these warriors To be great !

[@jerryumfress9030]

The most beautiful fighter in the world

[@jgllo3050]

Those fellas be like: yeah, your Ferrari too much power. Ok, yeah, whatever. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jonmartin6451]

If I had to wage a guess I’d say the claw hand signal is representative of the Falcon with open claws that was painted on the fuselage of the F-16’s when I was in the war back in 83-92….FLY FIGHT AND WIN BOYS

[@luvtheus]

What war were you in between 83-92?

[@jonmartin6451]

@@luvtheus the “war” is just a word play for my time on Active duty

[@lorenajimenez9989]

A mi me encantan toooodas las señas k hacen, es el mejor lenguaje k puedan tener, ya k es imposible una audicion normal, k se den ordenes hablando 🤔 dificil. Ademas el baile que da la salida al piloto / avion. Me encanta, cada uno tiene su estilo. 😂🙏🙏🙏🙋‍♀️👏🇲🇽😘

[@OranutYatthaisong]

IT Rodoffe Progress Supply Systems '' SorfSE Volk 😂😂Bette Rodoffe

[@edwardturner1282]

Pure eye candy. Awesome.

[@tracycobb9499]

Absolutely amazing!!!!!!

[@Cockpit_Racing]

The Claw = Good Hunting ❤

[@jodyduran9549]

I now know the meaning of the claw. Thank you

[@marisolmoran8876]

Maravilloso! Estuviera todo el día viéndolos.

[@mariabencze-ei6eg]

Bunǎ Ziua! Dupǎ culori! Şi perfecționați pe ntru show-uri performanța şi aptidunilile piloților şi al avioanelor. De capabilitǎțile lor.!

[@ReginaKarpaya]

The dances are amazing and entertaining I love them how males have such flexibility and funny in their poses. I love all these shorts reels well done 👍👍

[@nielsdorhout058]

At 4:20 the F-16D is from the ROKAF being modified by Lockheed. Pretty cool it landed up in this video 💪🏼

[@jesuswilliams5986]

Total professionalism.

[@michaeltroster9059]

Absolutely. I wish the politicians were as dedicated as these skilled people were.

[@AnnaDarbyshire]

😮❤ God bless you there's no way I could be in a small area like that going that fast and then turning around in circles and spinning oh my God 🙏👍

[@anniepadilla3627]

Wow!!!!! Impressive👍And there you go sweetie. Blessings🇺🇸✌️❤️

[@estherkritharakis9443]

This is why i love my country we have the vest of the best we are power and we show it

[@silviaraymundo7946]

❤❤fan❤❤ i love birds like that❤❤

[@xopi2521]

I love these videos. Amazing job the military does. What does the claw signal mean?

[@FernandaPinto-d1x]

Por vezes esquecemos, a importância da equipa por trás do piloto. É o chefe da equipa e seus colaboradores, que põe em segurança os aviões no ar. Parabéns por seu saber e trabalho. Deus abençoe todos os soldados,pilotos e seus colaboradores. Um abraço de respeito e admiração de Portugal. ❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kdvidorus]

I know my favorite AIR FORCE PLANE ISN’T A FIGHTER JET BUT IT WAS STILL VERY COOL. THE SR-1 BLACKBIRD AKC HABOO!! My dad ran the 9Th FMS WHICH OVER SAW THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ENGINE.

[@luvtheus]

Great choice! The SR71 is still the fastest. NOTHING can catch it.

[@marisolmoran8876]

Sería fascinante que los diálogos también fueran en español. Un abrazo cariñoso desde Chile!

[@BarB2-90Nine]

Pilot gang signs Some others vids doing all the signs and swing for the pilot it great to watch job to keep USA safe Ty’s for video

[@paulyannucci7079]

For a story that was supposed to show crew chiefs and pilots showing hand signals, they didn't give them but a few minutes, and the rest was other than that.

[@rickeymitchell8620]

The F-16's with SW tail letters are from Shaw AFB S.C. 55th, 77th, and 79th TFS of the 20th TFW. Served with the 79th at RAF Upper Heyford UK when they flew the F-111E 1973-1977.

[@williamdodge5123]

More fun had with Tailhooks ! Fly Navy USS FORRESTAL CV-59 82-84 Iranian hostage issue. 82

[@justaflyboy]

Retired weapons loader, B-1 and F16. Loved them both and binge on AF aircraft every now and then. A little disappointed in the inaccuracies in this video, like the C17 "arriving for the school busses" was from Charleston and the C17 "departing with them" was from McChord, but it gets the point across. The C17 is a hell of an aircraft, flew on them a few times in my 24 years.

[@JulesUS8386]

Watching the Growler refuel is frightening. They have to insert the hose in front of the pilot’s face by the front canopy!!watching the fuel actually go down into the jet is awesome. Scary if the hose goes through the canopy though. The landing of the F-16 shown at the end with his nose up in the air would have been nice if he had a tail hook! lol Do cross winds cause that landing with nose to the right I think it was? Then you see the Wingtip vortice on the off the left wing as the jet lands on the left wheel First causing the little bounce to the right wheel then. Those kind of landings look frightening. The cloud rolls across the sky when refueling look pretty like ocean waves…nice photo!

[@luvtheus]

F-16's have tail hooks.

[@scottw5315]

USAF boys look tough...

[@brendaclark5185]

Awesome ❤

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

"No F-16 sortie is complete without a trip to the tanker." This is true, hahaha.

[@wrmlm37]

It is NOT FAIR that we women don't have this upper body strength. Those paratroopers must be very fit. Holy cow that looks incredibly heavy and exhausting. Next life, huh? TY for this upload. I adore these videos.

[@pnarnesemirza4229]

O her bir işaretinde bir sinyal var ama; bizler bunu anlamayan kitle ya da taraftanız. Ve evet, hepside işlerinde mükemmeller! ❤❤❤❤ Haklarını vermek zordur lakin, eğtimlerini çok iyi almışlar hepsi, aferin. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@cyberbogart]

The USAF is so fucking awesome.

[@marianaantunes6533]

Amazing 😂😂😂😍😍😍👏👏👏🚀🚀🚀🇺🇲❤

[@jameshemmig2372]

Pretty impressive. They take off in a desert war zone and land at Nellis AFB Las Vegas.

[@АккуДулатовна]

Круто! Когда вКазахстане будет крутая авиация.!

[@xopi2521]

I’m assuming that Edwards AFB in the Mojave. I used to explore the area with my dog. I see it in a lot of videos.

[@devinjonathan5681]

Those specific hand signals mean Happy Hunting.

[@silviaraymundo7946]

Even though Thriller crawl?

[@luvtheus]

and a lot of it is merely showing off and is meaningless but fun.....

[@andygertz8740]

AMAZING!!. YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY!!.🎉😮😊❤ 10/2023

[@kfelix2934]

The F16 is equal to a stingray-corvette , always sexy in body line no matter that it's 30+ years old. When it correct F16 tail-letter WP where the beast. As soon a the F4 was removed from services the 8th tac fighter wing got 1+ dozen of these planes

[@bipmix]

A silly question: what's the pilot carrying in his gear bags? its bulky and heavy so its not the lunch...;-)

[@johnhopkins6260]

These gestures are little more than an outward expression of the adrenalin rush pride in launching the most wicked fighter in the world... no other nation enjoys this much righteous confidence; Seconded only by the second most powerful air force in the world: The United States Navy. Air Superiority vs. Air Sovereignty... "We rule the skies". (For Ukrainian pilots: welcome to the club) Fangs, claws and single-row eyebrows, notwithstanding.

[@williamhutchins479]

Second most powerful Air force in the world? the U.S. Army Aviation Branch is the second largest.* Not the Navy. (with the United States having the largest air force) Who else has more?

[@stevenruss712]

​​​@@williamhutchins479nah b it's the navy. Army only has choppers, some heavies and drones. You must be a time traveler from before the year 1947 lol

[@OranutYatthaisong]

CZ Pony Kichen Crazy 😢😢

[@lazuardi9301]

Mantap coy

[@asdonut]

At 3:07 you can clearly see a "remove before flight" pin flapping under the missile on the left wing as the plane taxis. All these hand signals and they miss that? This is a joke right?

[@mariabencze-ei6eg]

Beautiful! School bus at armed forces site! … Maybe is a good idea! Many leaders being in leading positions shoud learn a bit more . And share, conversate with yungens, of the age that realy riding one of thoose business every day. Exept vacations.

[@Lora_Lynn]

I have recently become obsessed with these videos. Everything I never knew. I'm thinking that a trip on a rocket, Elon's for example must be damn boring. Yawn snooze until you reach LEO. Why not paint those birds, like an eagle?

[@OranutYatthaisong]

Vater Hubort 😂😂very good Engeineering 'Electric Technick 😂😂😂5555 i only Luck about Rodoffe 😂

[@gigigigi1906]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@wbkkplanespotter4333]

may ik what is the background music?

[@MrsCraigJrPhiladelphia]

PHILADELPHIA USA ☦️🇺🇲🪖😎🐑🔔🏥🩰😇🪞

[@esmeraldajosefina9363]

Esto es avctual., estamo en estado de guerra o nos invaden respuestas espero.

[@TheAlexIceman]

[USERNAME] 🚀! Love aviation!

[@jasonkucinski7165]

The rounds are manually cranked because the UALS never have any air them. A Crew Chief will never be pulling pins from the HARM, he is not Weapons.

[@luvtheus]

I've pulled many a pin but there are certain "special" weapons the crew chiefs are married too but weapons troops handle the tech on these. Thank God!

[@catherine59226]

Weird hand signals? You mean to say awesome hand signals!

[@ronalddavis]

need a cordless drill with a socket extension damn

[@theolddoctor4492]

I am curious why the United States Air Force is moving two school buses.

[@devinjonathan5681]

I'm not sure if it was for training or real life but it's done for humanitarian aid overseas

[@tinman3505]

Can someone confirm that all F-16 were nicknamed Vipers? I was reading that not all of them were.

[@luvtheus]

The Falcon was the common call sign but we also referred to them as Vipers

[@S.Clause]

I thought this was a pilot crew chief video???

[@chillyboi6597]

we are weapons troops not munitions we actually touch to aircraft. munitions is just like " hi dominos pizza whats your adress... ok well be there in 6 hours"

[@jaynebailey]

Wow

[@AAa-cf1oe]

💙

[@NoneofyourBusiness-gy9yw]

i am really amaze at US crews who fix,arm,refuel those planes which is actually the backbone of american air superiority. to cripple US air superiority you first need to get to them. not saying the pilot is completely irrelevant but pilot is just one person. logically you can get more things done with a few extra pair of hands. besides i believe a pilot is only as good as his crews.

[@carilynhall5850]

How does the Pilot use the restroom in flight?

[@luvtheus]

they use the "pilot tube". While sometime difficult to get the "Johnson" out of your pants, it's better than peeing your pants.

[@beaterstang0898]

The HGU-55 helmet did not exist during Vietnam.

[@mehmetatalay2771]

They are talking about MBU-55 😂

[@iwonkaszymanska7569]

🌺🌟♥️⭐

[@ALMALKY-q1y]

بي فور 👇🎞️👾💫💫💫💫4🕷️🕸️☝️✊✊✊✊🐄

[@badatheist9948]

looks like Nellis

[@TheFunkhouser]

Whys the pilot look 60!?

[@millicentsquirrelhole582]

Weird hand signals..wha'?..ya' mean 'cool hand sigs', right?

[@ajflyingatyomouth2831]

No, they're saying they never served and don't understand what squadron mascots are and why specific gestures.

[@2ndHandBoyfriend]

Any clue as to what they mean? The claw gestures and so on…

[@kfelix2934]

@@2ndHandBoyfriend That claw symbols represent that fighter squadron symbol. It for a FS Tiger Squardon iirc. Each FQ has some unique symbols, 2 letter tail letters and patch. The tiger claws has been around since vitenam also.

[@2ndHandBoyfriend]

@@kfelix2934 thanks for helping me understand that mate 🙂

[@bo0tsy1]

Ok, big issue with viper, it's a falcon. Viper is more suited to a helicopter, not an F-16 which is a plane.

[@عليتايم-ب4ك]

❤🎉

[@DelmerOrtiz-en9nh]

señal x x c Alimento ho c H gas helextrikdans esprimo nosedekien pero es primo k cosasno 😂 😂 😂

[@joshuaybarra4367]

Wrong, it's not a "weird" hand symbol. It's the hand symbol related to piloting a F-22 Raptor

[@kfelix2934]

But the plane is not a rapto it's Viper which came out quite a few decades earlier ;) And no that is not what it means, it that fighter squadron hand signals for "fighter Tigers" or a "Tiger Claws".

[@boodee_]

​@@kfelix2934 falcon claws