To mark 100 years of military aviation in Thailand, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has painted two of it's F-16A Fighting Falcons in a special scheme to mark the occasion. The aircraft (10311 and 10324), both from 103 Sqn based at RTAFB Korat, are now in the dazzling scheme, named "Century Falcon" that you see in the photos above.
An interesting note on the scheme is that there is a Nieuport painted on the underside of the F-16s. The backstory is that on 28 February 1912 the Thai Government dispatched three officers to learn to fly in France, thus marking the birth of Thai military aviation. The three officers (Major Luang Sakdi Sanlayawut (Sunee Suwanprateep), Captain Luang Arwut Sikikorn (Long Sinsuk) and First Lieutenant Tip Ketuthat learned to fly and on 2 November 1913 returned to Thailand with eight aircraft (four Breguets and four Nieuports). They are today regarded as the forefathers of the Royal Thai Air Force.
More photos at ThaiArmedForce.com
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