F-16 Mystery Pylon / Launcher

[habu2]

Can anyone identify or provide more info about the dual-rail pylon seen in the links below? 
 

It is mounted on STA 3 on FSD F-16A #2 75-0746 at Edwards when it was with the 6510th Test Wing. 
 

 

 

[11bee]

Interesting....  only thing that comes to mind would be Shrike or Sparrow launchers.

[Finn]

There is a pic in the Squadron Signal F-16 In Action book, the early volume, showing a Mk57 practice weapon on the middle rack of it.

 

Jari

[habu2]

I have that book, what page?  I don’t see anything resembling the above photos. 

[Finn]

I think it was in that book or maybe the detail and scale book?

 

Jari

[Mstor]

Appears to be set up to handle both missile and bomb type ordnance. I've never seen another photo of one. Too bad there isn't identifying info in the stencil on the side view.

[habu2]

The front and rear fairings would indicate a rail launcher to me.  Given the approximate time period and that this was a test squadron I was thinking AIM-7 or AIM-120 development, possibly related to the ADF program.  Open to other suggestions.

[Niels]

The F-16B was considered for Wild Weasel in the early 80's, and a concept model carrying dual AGM-45's and wingtip pods was set up using one of the FSD birds. I wouldn't be surprised if this is that demo bird, even if it carries standard wingtip launchers on the photos provided. 

[ElectroSoldier]

It seems to me that there are 3 sets of mounting lug and sway braces as if to allow either for instance a pair of Mk82 based bombs on the for and aft positions or a larger weapon mounted to the center lug position.

[Finn]

Here is the pic i mentioned, available on the net:

 

https://nara.getarchive.net/media/a-bdu-12-bomb-attached-to-the-multi-purpose-wing-pylon-of-an-f-16-fighting-141fce

 

Jari

[habu2]

2 hours ago, Niels said:

The F-16B was considered for Wild Weasel in the early 80's, and a concept model carrying dual AGM-45's and wingtip pods was set up using one of the FSD birds. I wouldn't be surprised if this is that demo bird, even if it carries standard wingtip launchers on the photos provided. 

 

The Wild Weasel mockup was on FSD F-16B 75-0751, pics can be found in the Detail & Scale book (p.57) and the Aerofax Aerograph book (p.80)  The dual carriage pylon was of a different configuration than the mystery rack.

 

1 hour ago, Finn said:

Here is the pic i mentioned, available on the net:

 

https://nara.getarchive.net/media/a-bdu-12-bomb-attached-to-the-multi-purpose-wing-pylon-of-an-f-16-fighting-141fce

 

Jari

 

Excellent find, thank you.  

 

.

 

Edited December 29, 2019 by habu2

[weirich1]

It's obviously a developmental pylon that NEVER made it to production, the images are from 1983 and no one have ever seen it used.

[GW8345]

23 hours ago, habu2 said:

Can anyone identify or provide more info about the dual-rail pylon seen in the links below? 
 

It is mounted on STA 3 on FSD F-16A #2 75-0746 at Edwards when it was with the 6510th Test Wing. 
 

 

 

This dual rack does not appear to be configured to handle rail launched type missiles (AIM-120/AGM-88/etc) since each side is configured with three bomb racks. There is no rail for the missile to hang on and the sway brace arms would interfere with the wings/fins.

 

The dual launcher adapter in the D&S book (page 57) appears to be an ADU-315/-316 dual launcher adapter used on A-4's during Vietnam but I can't tell for sure since it's only a frontal shot.

 

Just my $0.02, ymmv

[admiralcag]

Maybe it's the F-16 version of the MER. The bomb racks look like MAU-12s, but I'm not certain. YMMV

 

Vern

[ElectroSoldier]

Could it have been a way to try and carry four GBU-12 bombs while still keeping the ability to carry a pair of GBU-10s?

[GW8345]

8 hours ago, ElectroSoldier said:

Could it have been a way to try and carry four GBU-12 bombs while still keeping the ability to carry a pair of GBU-10s?

Possible

[weirich1]

Maybe a rack to carry multiple BDU-33s

[GW8345]

5 hours ago, weirich1 said:

Maybe a rack to carry multiple BDU-33s

Not possible for the following reasons;

 

1) BDU-33 (and all other small caliber practice bombs) can not be release from a bomb rack that has an ejector foot, the ejector foot will split the bomb in half during release.

2) The MAU-12 is only capable of handling weapons with a diameter of at least 9 inches, the BDU-33 is only 4 inches in diameter. You would not be able to sway the bomb down.

3) The lug on the BDU-33 is too narrow for the hook on the MAU-12.

[cafe]

There are a few more pics of that MPP at Britmodeller: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235039249-f-16a-75-0746/&tab=comments#comment-3055529