F-16XLs - Only 2 Were Ever Built — One Flew Alongside an SR-71 Blackbird at Mach 3 to Help NASA Measure Sonic Booms
Posted by AlbinoAkon@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 24 comments
In 1981, General Dynamics began flight testing the F-16XL — a radical “cranked-arrow” delta-wing variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with approximately twice the wing area, 65 percent more internal fuel, twice the ordnance hardpoints, and a fuselage stretched 56 inches longer — designed to compete in the U.S. Air Force’s Enhanced Tactical Fighter program seeking a replacement for the F-111 Aardvark in the deep-strike role.
HughJorgens@reddit
It should have lost that contest, but why this was never produced for somebody else I will never know. I can't believe that European countries wouldn't have gone nuts for this thing if it was available instead of the base model.
The3rdBert@reddit
The F-20 is why. Lockheed wasn’t going to pay to develop an airframe that the USAF wasn’t interested in.
HughJorgens@reddit
True, I suppose. Still...
UpsetNerd@reddit
NASA has a free e-book about it: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/elegance_in_flight.pdf
AutonomousOrganism@reddit
F-16XL maxes out at Mach 2.
NF-104@reddit
The F-16 has a fixed geometry inlet (for cost/weight reasons), so it could barely hit Mach 2. To go any faster it would need a variable geometry inlet or a modern diverterless inlet, plus more thrust.
no-more-nazis@reddit
Then how does it get to orbit, genius?
AlbinoAkon@reddit (OP)
So I reckon it flew along side for a certain distance to measure the shockwave but no way it kept up at mach 3👌
brickfrenzy@reddit
There is a book series called Wingman, written by Mack Maloney, that at least in the early novels that I read (from the late 80s into the early 90s) featured the F-16XL as the hero plane. It's ridiculous spec fiction post-apoc male fantasy military dreck, but 14 year old me loved that shit.
Anyway, cool plane.
fockewolfw190@reddit
f16xl with American flag livery
redbirdrising@reddit
Was about to comment about this. 14 year old me loved all the sex in those books. Definitely male fantasy crap but yeah, lots of fun. I think the train one was my favorite.
The_Mutton_Man@reddit
needs kenards
Federal_Cobbler6647@reddit
This picture must be always posted together with mention of F-16XL.
It is wild how little things changed over 30 years: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtBM42IXMAUoLgC.jpg
postmodest@reddit
But if you do 1925-1955, it's unbelievable.
Bonald9056@reddit
Draken my beloved.
Cranked deltas are so cool looking
Cooper-xl@reddit
2nd livery is fire
ibrahimtuna0012@reddit
I always found this aircraft interesting.
It's obviously just an experimental work but I would have loved a mass produced double delta F-16.
HarryPhishnuts@reddit
After it lost out to the F-15E for the ETF the USAF still considered a buy of about 300 in the late 80s, but got cold feet when it looked like it might compete for funding with the ATF program.
sirguinneshad@reddit
Then later the ATF would be gutted by defense cuts, so perhaps the coolest plane in existence now, numbers under 200 total, fewer still on operational condition. And "the nerdy kid" F-35 got an air-to-air kill before it too... Technically no but I don't count downing a surveillance ballon to be in the same league as a manned aircraft.
AlbinoAkon@reddit (OP)
Concept yep 👍
wolfs4@reddit
I stood alongside an sr-71 at mach 3 in a museum
AlbinoAkon@reddit (OP)
Sorry I should of posted the link - https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/only-2-f-16xls-were-ever-built-one-flew-alongside-an-sr-71-blackbird-at-mach-3-to-help-nasa-measure-sonic-booms/
Important-Spring3977@reddit
Mach 3 lol 😂😂
AlbinoAkon@reddit (OP)
The F-16XL produced a 25 percent improvement in supersonic lift and offered superior range and payload over the baseline F-16, but in 1984 the Air Force selected the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle instead — citing the F-15E’s twin-engine survivability, lower developmental risk, continuity with the F-15 production line, and greater future growth potential. Only two F-16XLs were ever built, and both were transferred to NASA in 1988 for supersonic laminar flow research, including one that flew in tandem with a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at Mach 3 to measure the SR-71’s shockwaves for sonic-boom mitigation studies.
--So I reckon on flew along side for a certain distance to measure the shockwave but no way it kept up at mach 3