The beautifully original F-16XL. Unfortunately it went nowhere and the USAF choose the F-15 instead
Posted by leaningtoweravenger@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 13 comments
SportyJohnson@reddit
I must say it's a beautiful airplane, though!
Ritzydominoes26@reddit
It‘s unfortunate that the US never adopted this mod.It significantly increased the F-16‘s range and ablity to carry weapons.I briefly had the opportunity to work on one a long time ago.I was impressed, by the design and general commonality with the regular F-16‘s.The fuel load was pretty impressive too, and it could still have external tanks if wanted.
DutyIllustrious2886@reddit
I was a DFLCS software engineer at GD from 84 till 2007 incorporating the first DIGITAL fly by wire,and would have been incorporated into XL most likely. I say that to say this: look at the number of sorties flown by F-16s in desert storm. The DFLCS allowed for such a short turn around and was so maintainable that it outstripped all other AC massively. Never worked XL, but assume that would have been incorporated into the XL fleet if ther were one. Just another consideration.
Treemarshal@reddit
It wasn't adopted because for regular F-16 jobs the regular F-16 was better, and for Strike Eagle jobs the Strike Eagle was better.
The F-16XL looks awesome, but that's about all it had going for it, in the final accounting.
KravenDoom@reddit
Still if they made it comercially, it's an option to many countries that don't have the capacity to operate several different models, having this as a variant would lower the maintenance and operation cost while having more diverse capabilities.
It would definitely sell well
CyberUtilia@reddit
So kind of like the f35 being able to do a lot of things decently and it's "popular" for other countries to buy some.
KravenDoom@reddit
yes, like that but with a much lower cost of purchase and operation
Treemarshal@reddit
Fun fact: modern F-16s cost more to buy than F-35s...
CyberUtilia@reddit
Oh yea, I guess the f35 would be more expensive to initially buy cause all of the engineering and manufacturing of that VTOL engine (which is also more complex and so more expensive to maintain).
Romania is expected to get about thirty f35's. Can't wait to see them around here!
They already have precisely f16's and I think there's still some left to be delivered. I bet they would've gotten f16xl if it had made it into production in the USA. Cause with a small air force you're going to want something multirole. But the f16 is pretty multirole too.
nev3rgoon@reddit
Fair
nev3rgoon@reddit
Literally the ugliest f16 ever I hate this design so much
Betelguese90@reddit
I understand why the USAF chose the F-15E over the F-16XL. Easier to upgrade the F-15 into the newer variant, while the F-16XL would need to be completely reconstructed as it was essentially a new airframe. BUT, I still think the AF should have opted into both. Not only would the F-16 compliment the F-15 in regular multirole capabilities (standard F-16 and F-15) but also compliment the F-15E in the more specific strike capabilities.
Traditional_Sun3990@reddit
F-15E was an all new build also, existing F-15's can't be upgraded to an E. From what I read the XL was inferior to the F-16 as a fighter , which is why it was looked at to go into service as well.