Quicker Than a Speeding Jet? Dodge Viper Shows Its Muscle in Ultimate Battle of American Horsepower

* Viper vs. Viper Rematch Raises $25,000 For Luke Air Force Base Fund

GOODYEAR, Ariz., March 17 -- Poised on one runway at the Luke Air Force Base in Goodyear, Ariz., was the United States Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon "Viper" fighter jet. Next to it, and prepared for the challenge: America's ultimate sports car, the 500 horsepower Dodge Viper SRT-10.

What followed was a high-horsepower, half-mile race between the Air Force's finest multi-role fighter jet and the icon of the Dodge brand. When the dust settled last Saturday before thousands of spectators at the Luke Days Air Show, the Dodge Viper came out on top, covering the half mile in about 18 seconds.

"Obviously it was an awesome sight seeing the Dodge Viper SRT-10 move down the runway quicker than an F-16," said Dan Knott, Director - Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO), DaimlerChrysler. "But what was even better was the fact that everyone involved with making the event happen -- and even those on hand to watch it -- felt like a winner.

"We were thrilled to be able to demonstrate the performance of the Viper," Knott added. "The Air Force loved the competition. The spectators certainly enjoyed it. And to top it off, the Viper Club of America raised more than $25,000 for the Luke Air Force Base Morale, Welfare and Recreation Fund."

This was the second consecutive year that Dodge and its icon vehicle -- the Viper SRT-10 -- challenged the F-16 as part of the Luke Days Air Show. "Viper vs. Viper" pitted a production Dodge Viper SRT-10, driven by Herb Helbig, Senior Manager, Vehicle Synthesis, PVO, DaimlerChrysler, against the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon "Viper," piloted by Major Ed "Fig" Figueroa, in a side-by-side, standing-start drag race on parallel air base runways. The rules: race for a half-mile, or until the jet becomes airborne.

Compared to the Dodge Viper's American sports car leading 500 horsepower, 525 lb.-ft. of torque and 190 mph top speed, the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon -- nicknamed the "Viper" -- generates around 23,000 pounds of thrust and a top speed of more than 1,300 mph. It is a compact, multiple-role, highly maneuverable fighter, considered by many to be the most agile modern fighter. It is capable of withstanding up to nine Gs, exceeding the capability of all other current fighter aircraft.

The Luke Days Air Show was hosted by the USAF 56th Fighter Wing -- the nation's largest -- under the command of Colonel Phil Breedlove. Located just west of Phoenix, Luke Air Force Base is the primary training ground for United States F-16 pilots.

"It's always an incredible rush to put the Viper to the test," said Helbig. "But to do so against an F-16 fighter jet at a U.S. military base in front of thousands of fans is really an amazing feeling. We're honored that the folks at Luke Air Force Base invited us to take part in their show."

The original Dodge Viper first hit the streets in 1992. Last year, and nearly 15,000 Vipers later, the completely redesigned third generation of Dodge's icon -- the Viper SRT-10 -- began production. It boasts an estimated 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, and a 0-100-0 mph time in the mid-13 second range.

Dodge recently began production of the Viper Competition Coupe, a single-seat racing version of the Viper SRT-10 wrapped in a coupe-shaped carbon/Kevlar body. It travels 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 193 mph and lateral acceleration of 1.25 Gs.

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