1975 General Dynamics Bird's-Eye View Map of Fort Worth, Texas

This is a 1975 General Dynamics bird's-eye view map of Fort Worth, Texas. This map was likely created to celebrate the YF-16's selection as the winner of the U.S. Air Force's Lightweight Fighter program, with the prototype appearing in the lower right.

A Closer Look

Fort Worth dominates the foreground, with the city's many suburbs identified. General Dynamics and Carswell Air Force Base appear just below Lake Worth. Texas Christian University (TCU) is labeled as well. Further afield, we recognize Arlington and Dallas, with Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington an eye-catching red. Texas Stadium (Dallas Cowboys) and the University of Dallas are labeled, as is Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport. Denton and Lake Dallas appear in the background.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 Fighting Falcon (illustrated here with a colorful prototype paint job) was developed by General Dynamics to compete in the U.S. Air Force's Lightweight Fighter program. After rigorous testing by the U.S. Air Force throughout 1974, the Air Force announced that the F-16 was the winner of the competition on January 13, 1975. The F-16 became one of the most prolific military fix-wing aircraft ever created, with over 4,500 delivered by 2010 to twenty-five nations other than the United States.

Publication History and Census

This bird's-eye view map was created by an artist known only as 'Norman' and published by General Dynamics Fort Worth Division in 1975. We know of only one other cataloged example, which is in private hands. Does not appear in OCLC.