> relatively modern multi-role fighter F-16 first flight was 45 years ago. Or put other way, F-16 first flight was significantly closer to MiG-17 first flight

> relatively modern multi-role fighter F-16 first flight was 45 years ago. Or put other way, F-16 first flight was significantly closer to MiG-17 first flight than F-35 (which gets to represent modern aircraft) first flight (24 years vs 32 years) And F-16 was explicitly designed to pretty light-weight aircraft for its time, compared to e.g. its contemporary F-15: > Boyd's design called for a light-weight fighter with a high thrust-to-weight ratio, high maneuverability, and a gross weight of less than 20,000 lb (9,100 kg), half that of its counterpart, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (it did end up bit fatter than that though..)