Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

F-16A

Fighting Falcon

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

1. F-16A Marker

Inscription. The F-16A (NASA 516), renumbered NASA 816, was transferred to Dryden from Langley AFB. It was used primarily for parts and engine tests, and is the only civil registered F-16 in existence. This aircraft is on loan from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

Erected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 34° 36.598′ N, 118° 7.006′ W. Marker is in Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. It is at the intersection of Lockheed Way and 8th Street East, on the right when traveling west on Lockheed Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1011 Lockheed Way, Palmdale CA 93599, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and

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also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: F-104 (within shouting distance of this marker); AGM-28 Hound Dog (approx. 1.6 miles away); Model 143 - Triumph (approx. 1.7 miles away); A.W. "Tony" LeVier (approx. 1.7 miles away); F-14 Tomcat (approx. 1.7 miles away); Joe Davies Jr (approx. 1.7 miles away); F-105 Thunderchief (approx. 1.7 miles away); Col. Robert L. Riedenauer (Ret) (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmdale.

Regarding F-16A. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the U.S. Air Force. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since production began in 1976 in Fort Worth, Texas. Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built in Greenville, South Carolina, for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
In 2014, NASA Dryden Flight Research

F-16A and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

2. F-16A and Marker

Center became the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

3. F-16A and Marker

With external fuel tanks. Nickname: Viper.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

4. F-16A

The security gate at Lockheed Martin is visible at left, and the credit union/gift shop is at right.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

5. F-16A

The huge Lockheed building in the distance was built in the 1960s for production of L-1011 TriStar jumbo jet airliners.

F-117 Stealth Fighter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 31, 2023

6. F-117 Stealth Fighter

Visible in the distance ¼-mile away is a Stealth Fighter painted with stars and stripes.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 4, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.