This F16 testbed with an F35 intake
Posted by Late-Scarcity-6916@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 84 comments
An F16 was once equipped with a DSI to help test the F35 intake. I personally think this is the best-looking f16.
Morganrow@reddit
For radar signature? Looks like a compressor stall waiting to happen!
MarshallKrivatach@reddit
Divertless inlet, is designed so that you don't need a splitter plate.
It is considered a superior way to handle boundary layer separation issues that splitter plates originally were used for.
tempskawt@reddit
Oh it’s not a stealth thing? I figured diverters were rough for stealth but I guess the 22 has them. What are the other benefits that made the 35 go for it?
jozzyfirst@reddit
DSI significantly improves the radar signature compared to the gap/plate with a cleaner body. It pushes the fuselage boundary layer air flow to outside of the inlet. On supersonic flight it also does a oblique shock just before the inlet which slows and compresses the air going to the inlet so compressor gets nice subsonic airflow.
What i wanna know is on this f16 the inlet wraps around the bump wide. So when i look to image i say no way this bump pushes the air that far out but i guess it does
tempskawt@reddit
Yeah, diverted inlets are difficult to design stealth for. There’s a bump ahead of the intake of the F-35, and my understanding is that bump was one of the most complicated parts of the jet to design.
Morganrow@reddit
Maybe the part that looks like a boat just above the inlet allows it to operate at similar angles of attack.
icanucan@reddit
Ok, I'll bite: that intake is nothing like the f35's...what am I missing?
Juvat-the-bold@reddit
This photo is from before the F-35 was even a thing.
texan01@reddit
yup. looking at the pic of it in the hangar, the Fort Worth skyline was pre-2000 tornado.
ts737@reddit
The bump on the intake instead of the slot
Sjgolf891@reddit
It’s pioneering the diverter-less supersonic (DSI) inlet design. Basically a ‘bump’ at the inlet that removes the need for a splitter/diverter plate that most supersonic jets have at the inlet.
Bceverly@reddit
Ok. I hated working as a jet engine mechanic on these little pain in the ass aircraft after the F-4 but that does look cool. Still vacuums up debris from the runway so still lots of FOD walks. Ah well…
Arcal@reddit
At least the intake is ahead of the nose wheel, even on a good airstrip, there's always the chance the nose wheel will knock something loose. Look at the lengths the Mig-29 went to in solving this problem.
Recoil42@reddit
Elios000@reddit
put that new intake on the XL and call it the Super Falcon would make great 2nd line fighter that would be way cheaper then 35
FormulaKibbles@reddit
The F-15EX is already filling that role and does the important job of carrying a shit ton of missiles.
DonnerPartyPicnic@reddit
That doesn't really satisfy the cheaper than an F-35 part. An EX is nowhere near cheap.
Spencemw@reddit
EX is not cheap. But Boeing reengineered the airframe for 20,000hr life span. The F-15C had 6000hr life, the F-35 8000
FormulaKibbles@reddit
See my other comment but a new Viper is relatively the same cost to an F-35.
the_Q_spice@reddit
Save for the fact that none of the F-15 variants can carry HARMs. They are super limited and high risk SEAD aircraft to the point they are reliant on F-16s to fill that role.
FormulaKibbles@reddit
Brother, the F-35 is already the best SEAD aircraft and does an amazing job at it. The Viper SEAD units supplement that role.
FZ_Milkshake@reddit
F-35 is gonna be the SEAD aircraft. Especially for that role the stealth matters.
Elios000@reddit
thats nice but it still cost fuck to more then F-16XL would upgrade would and the XL can carry just as much A2A
FormulaKibbles@reddit
There is I believe one F-16XL in existence so no building a bunch of those would most likely cost more than new Vipers. Not to mention, an XL cant carry as much as an EX regardless of the wings due to its size and power output. One of the big reasons they went with the Strike Eagle in the first place.
Juvat-the-bold@reddit
Yeah, but he said way cheaper.
FormulaKibbles@reddit
A brand new block 70 Viper has a similar cost to a 35. That part is erroneous.
aedinius@reddit
What about long term costs?
FormulaKibbles@reddit
Whether you’re buying a brand new Viper or F-35, you are already unconcerned with the few thousand difference in per hour flight time cost.
TbonerT@reddit
The funny thing is that F-16s somehow make good bombers.
Arcal@reddit
Nuts isn't it? It came out of a program who's motto was "not a pound for air-to-ground". Was designed to dominate WVR A2A engagements and now we're strapping dumb bombs, AMRAAMS and fuel tanks all over. It's like a Lotus Elise with a tow hitch.
No-Marsupial-1753@reddit
The F-20 is calling, it wants its job back.
kenticus@reddit
The tigershark was fired on it's first day
CarminSanDiego@reddit
Hnnnnngh
FxckFxntxnyl@reddit
I agree with that, I find it absurdly beautiful with the delta wing.
BrianWantsTruth@reddit
Compound delta 🤤
s0ul_invictus@reddit
*cranked
Samwise1411K@reddit
Officially the cranked arrow. Both were parked outside the north end of the factory for a few years before being repainted and transferred to NASA. Also my favrite.
HeadfulOfGhosts@reddit
Cranked delta actually iirc
FxckFxntxnyl@reddit
You’re correct, sorry!
BrianWantsTruth@reddit
I just think compound deltas are the prettiest. Especially if they have something funky going on at the trailing edge, which the XL also has!
AtLeastIHaveJob@reddit
That’s just an F16 before it took Airzempic
LifeStraggler4@reddit
Looks like a happy pelican.
certainlychaos@reddit
Isn’t that the nose of the X-32, from the JSF competition? The program that resulted in the F-35.
HLSparta@reddit
Somehow this is my first time ever learning about it and I have to say it is absolutely beautiful.
Kaffe-Mumriken@reddit
Majestic beard F-16
Texas_Kimchi@reddit
F16XL with the F35 Intake = Dream plane
Oldsbird2121@reddit
If this make a difference with signature, this would be a perfect gen 4+ upgrade along with block 70 upgrades to the current U.S. fleet.
cat_prophecy@reddit
Damn, is there anything the f-16 can't do?
OddBoifromspace@reddit
How does it prevent the boundry layer from entering the engine?
dirt3k@reddit
I don’t hate it.
GooseDentures@reddit
It looks like Stan from American Dad
Booouurns@reddit
That second pic...
FutoriousChad07@reddit
Am I missing something? This isn't the F-35 Intake. Although, it does look like Boeing's submission for the X-35 program where Boeing (left) and Lockheed Martin (right) competed.
Bullfrog_Paradox@reddit
I love that somebody obviously looked at the F35 drawings and was like "I'm not at all convinced this shit will work, can we like strap this to an F16 or something to see if the engine will even stay running before we go any further?"
hammer310@reddit
Goblin Shark!!!!
En4cr@reddit
Bext looking F-16 was the XL. That thing was absolutely majestic.
Accomplished-Bee1350@reddit
The F35 is a polished turd
Krash_Ngata@reddit
Imagine if they put an P&W F135 behind that intake And then don’t imagine all of the other issues that would generate.
kanoideric@reddit
Calling this F-35 intake is criminal 💔
Ardent-Honeybee@reddit
I'd never thought I need this F-16 lol
It looks kind of cute
Ziegler517@reddit
Now give it the f-35 engine
WeekMuch7018@reddit
So the truth is that F-35 is "only" an upgraded next generation F-16.
Negative_Pin_5275@reddit
Crazy
Taptrick@reddit
You mean X-32?
McPolice_Officer@reddit
American J-10C?
SacredIconSuite2@reddit
Finally.
American J-10
GrumpyOldGrognard@reddit
This pic is from 1996.
SacredIconSuite2@reddit
Whoosh
Next you’ll say the Eurofighter came before the J-10 too. SMH
GrumpyOldGrognard@reddit
When you say "Finally" it implies you think it's recent.
firehawk_hx@reddit
It's a meme, you wombat.
airport-codes@reddit
I am a bot.
^(If you are the OP and this comment is inaccurate or unwanted, reply below with "bad bot" and it will be deleted.)
neverbadnews@reddit
Bad bot
Coyote-Foxtrot@reddit
They're called diverterless supersonic intakes or DSIs y'know...
MidwestRacingLeague@reddit
What, and I cannot stress this enough, the fuck.
KudzuAU@reddit
Can someone clarify the tail graphics?
GrumpyOldGrognard@reddit
The white sort of pentagram on a blue background is the Lockheed-Martin logo. The logo is reversed; the design is intended to portray two deltas (Lockheed and Martin-Marietta) merging and moving forward, and the normal logo looks like it is moving from left to right. So for the left side of the aircraft they reversed it so it's still moving in the direction the aircraft is going.
The stripe above that is the Texas flag because the F-16 was built at Lockheed's Fort Worth plant.
KudzuAU@reddit
TYVM
Boo-Boo_Keys@reddit
Last picture is just
itchygentleman@reddit
The F16 wanted to copy the Boeing X-32 Huehuehue's homework, but just made it a little different
Elios000@reddit
give it this and put XL wings on it and call the Super Falcon
namesarenotus@reddit
In thrust we trust.
ChinaCatProphet@reddit
Ribbit!
stewbert-longfellow@reddit
He looks happy.
NoDoze-@reddit
Looks badass. Practically... jury is still out for lunch.