Tiger Ascent puts the Belgian Air Force X-Tiger on the back of your phone, seen from directly below as the F-16 climbs vertically, its yellow, black and grey tiger stripes set against blue sky between two ribbons of wingtip smoke.This is an original Marqforde photograph of F-16AM FA-136 pulling up through the vertical during a Belgian F-16 Solo Display, a role the X-Tiger took on as the team's reserve jet in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.About the aircraftThe X-Tiger first flew in its new colours at Kleine-Brogel on 16 July 2021. The scheme marked two anniversaries at once: 70 years of 31 "Tiger" Squadron, formed on 1 October 1951, and 60 years of the NATO Tiger Association.Johan Wolfs won a squadron contest to design a tiger jet in May 1991 and became 31 Squadron's regular tiger-jet designer. The 10th Tactical Wing paint shop applied his X-Tiger artwork, which stayed on until the jet went to SABCA in late 2023.31 Squadron flew Spitfire XIVs from January 1952, then F-84s, the F-104G Starfighter and, from 1982, the F-16. It first joined a NATO Tiger Meet in 1962 at RAF Woodbridge, and by 2016 had won the Silver Tiger a record nine times.Quick facts Aircraft: General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon, serial FA-136, the X-Tiger Role: Multirole fighter, and reserve Belgian solo display jet in 2022 and 2023 Powerplant: One Pratt and Whitney F100 afterburning turbofan Operator: 31 "Tiger" Squadron, 10th Tactical Wing, Kleine-Brogel Air Base Notable fact: Scheme by Johan Wolfs for 70 years of 31 Squadron and 60 years of the NATO Tiger Association Display context: Vertical climb with wingtip smoke during the Belgian F-16 Solo Display
