F-16 Fighting Falcons (World Fighter Aircraft Collection)

Two California air national guard F-16 Fighting Falcons during the opening ceremony for the 2009 Riverside airshow.

Unusually for an American airshow, they're both fitted with extra fuel tanks and short-range and long-range practice missiles, however unlike at foreign airshows, flares aren't permitted during these demonstrations.

The F-16 is the workhorse of the USAF, less capable than its twin-engined brother the F-15 Eagle, but cheaper to build and operate, and therefore able to be fielded in greater numbers.

First flying in 1974, the F-16 has been a phenomenal success, going beyond its original brief as a daytime fighter to become a true multirole aircraft equally as capable doing ground attack and air-to-air combat.   It now operates with about 25 air forces around the world, and comes in a variety of configurations, including two-seater models.   It has taken part in many military operations and shot down a wide variety of other aircraft in combat.