JB2013 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 On February 2 1974, under the Lightweight Fighter Program, the YF-16 - prototype of the - made its first flight.As of now it is serving twenty-five air forces worldwide. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
streetstream Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 And it still looks great today. I looks like it doesn't age. In my top 5 military planes, no doubt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 And it still looks great today. I looks like it doesn't age. Well, if you look at the rate it put on weight in those 42 years... ;) Undoubtably she's a classic. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Well, if you look at the rate it put on weight in those 42 years... ;)/> Undoubtably she's a classic. Cheers, Andre Amazing....It seems like just a few years ago we were taking deliveries of the first one at Nellis Cheers, Christian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Amazing....It seems like just a few years ago we were taking deliveries of the first one at Nellis :woot.gif:/> Indeed, I still vividly recall similar delivieres to Leeuwarden AB for 322 /323 Squadrons of the Dutch AF.... Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Amazing....It seems like just a few years ago we were taking deliveries of the first one at Nellis :woot.gif:/> Indeed, I still vividly recall similar delivieres to Leeuwarden AB for 322 /323 Squadrons of the Dutch AF.... Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 I love this plane, even the pointy prototypes. 42 ain't bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleAviation Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 My favorite jet! The most brilliant design ever devised Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleAviation Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 The "Electric Jet" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Yep, it's just about my favorite modern aircraft. In contrast to what Chuck Yeager said in an interview when promoting the F-20, I think the F-16 had several ground-breaking features for its time: Fly-By-Wire controls (probably the most significant, because it allowed other things to be incorporated), LERX, blended fuselage and wings, mach-2 performance without complex air intakes, side-stick control, and probably a few I forgot. I think all that has contributed to its long life. Plus, it's just a nice looking jet. :)/> Edited February 2, 2016 by Ken Cartwright Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 mach-2 performance without complex air intakes Which other aircraft have this feature? By complex do you mean moving? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) Which other aircraft have this feature? By complex do you mean moving? Yes, moving to adjust for the shockwave and slow the air down to subsonic speeds, like the F-4, F-15, etc. The F-16 intake was place at a location relative to nose that somehow accomplishes the same thing, as far as I understand it. Edited February 3, 2016 by Ken Cartwright Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I believe the technical term is "fixed" vs "variable" inlet design, as in variable inlet ramps seen in the F-4, F-14 & F-15 just to name a few. The F/A-18 inlet(s) would also fall under "fixed". My understanding of the F-16 inlet position design was to provide an unobstructed/undisturbed airflow path at high angles of attack. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Yes, habu2, that's what I was referring to. I think because the F/A-18 is not a mach-2 aircraft, the fixed inlets are not as much of an issue (which is why subsonic aircraft, like A-7s, A-4s, etc., are almost always fixed inlet designs, vs. F-4, F-15, F-14, etc.). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What about the F-20? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackcollar Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Goodness, has it been that long? I remember when it was just a prototype in red, white and blue... I feel old..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What about the F-20? I wasn't able to find any info on the F-20 intake design (if that's what you were asking about), probably because it wasn't produced in any numbers. But even if it was a fixed intake design, its first flight was 8 years after the F-16, so the F-16 would have still been a predecessor for that (similar to fly-by-wire, which just about every combat fighter had after the F-16, etc.). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 TBH I'm not sure which parts of the intakes move on which planes. I think, if the F-20 had fixed intakes, it's in a grey area because those intakes seem to be from the F-5, only the bigger engine of the F-20 made it mach 2 capable. This is all at a glace, but yeah I see what you mean about many others following the falcon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CF104 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I wasn't able to find any info on the F-20 intake design (if that's what you were asking about), probably because it wasn't produced in any numbers. But even if it was a fixed intake design, its first flight was 8 years after the F-16, so the F-16 would have still been a predecessor for that (similar to fly-by-wire, which just about every combat fighter had after the F-16, etc.). The F-20 had a fixed geometry inlet as well. The first Mach 2 production aircraft, the F-104, also had a fixed geometry inlet design. A full 18 years before the F-16 first flew so one could say the Starfighter was the predecessor to both the F-16 and F-20 as far as a fixed inlet design is concerned. Back to the subject! I am totally impressed with how a small single engine fighter that was originally designed as an air superiority fighter has evolved into a Jack-of-All-Trades multi-role fighter. Cheers, John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 TBH I'm not sure which parts of the intakes move on which planes. I think, if the F-20 had fixed intakes, it's in a grey area because those intakes seem to be from the F-5, only the bigger engine of the F-20 made it mach 2 capable. This is all at a glace, but yeah I see what you mean about many others following the falcon. Yeah, I'm not an expert, it's just stuff I've read. I think it's different for different aircraft. Here's a description of the F-15E's inlets: http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/en/technology/engines/100-air-inlets Thanks CF104, I didn't know it had fixed inlets - interesting! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Yep, it's just about my favorite modern aircraft. In contrast to what Chuck Yeager said in an interview when promoting the F-20, I think the F-16 had several ground-breaking features for its time: Fly-By-Wire controls (probably the most significant, because it allowed other things to be incorporated), LERX, blended fuselage and wings, mach-2 performance without complex air intakes, side-stick control, and probably a few I forgot. I think all that has contributed to its long life. Plus, it's just a nice looking jet. :)/>/> Chuck was well bought and said as much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stalal Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Yep, it's just about my favorite modern aircraft. In contrast to what Chuck Yeager said in an interview when promoting the F-20, I think the F-16 had several ground-breaking features for its time: Fly-By-Wire controls (probably the most significant, because it allowed other things to be incorporated), LERX, blended fuselage and wings, mach-2 performance without complex air intakes, side-stick control, and probably a few I forgot. I think all that has contributed to its long life. Plus, it's just a nice looking jet. :)/>/> Dont forget the reclining position of the pilot to tolerate high G forces and the bubble canopy. My favorite aircraft hands down. The most number of kits I have of one aircraft is this one. A beautiful design with great capability. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DarkJester Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 We still Had Block 5 (Black Radomes) and 10 16's when I got to Hill in 82. Yeah. It's been a while. Jester Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 What I find surprising- assuming I have my facts straight (never a sure thing!)- is that the most advanced F-16's in the world today are all owned by foreign countries, many of which are in the Middle East, like Bahrain, Jordan, Israel (of course), Oman, UAE and recently Iraq. Example: United Arab Emirates From the 'net: "As of mid-2014 the UAE Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD) fielded a total of 79 F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons, the majority of which were to be upgraded to Block 61 standard. In addition, it had requested the sale of a further 30 Block 61 aircraft, although a contract had yet to be signed." The obvious question is, how does an American F-16 fare against one of these export Vipers if a good guy today, turns into a bad guy tomorrow? My guess is that the US will just send in F-22's instead and not worry about it. ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 What I find surprising- assuming I have my facts straight (never a sure thing!)- is that the most advanced F-16's in the world today are all owned by foreign countries, many of which are in the Middle East, like Bahrain, Jordan, Israel (of course), Oman, UAE and recently Iraq. Example: United Arab Emirates From the 'net: "As of mid-2014 the UAE Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD) fielded a total of 79 F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons, the majority of which were to be upgraded to Block 61 standard. In addition, it had requested the sale of a further 30 Block 61 aircraft, although a contract had yet to be signed." The obvious question is, how does an American F-16 fare against one of these export Vipers if a good guy today, turns into a bad guy tomorrow? My guess is that the US will just send in F-22's instead and not worry about it. ;)/> Highly upgraded teens have been consolation prizes for countries that can't have 5th gen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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