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Falconry - The F-16
by Jim "Twitch" TittleArticle Type: Real Military
Article Date: April 17, 2001
Israeli F-16D
It has been simulated in more virtual software titles than probably any other jet fighter. Modeled well it is fun to fly in them. It can turn and zoom like nothing else. It has a wide variety of weapons that do any job. It's the P-51 of the modern era- the F-16.
The Little Plane That Could
The F-16 was a departure from the bulkier multipurpose planes that preceded it in military inventories around the world. While it could do several jobs well, it was designed primarily as a fighter. It is an update of pursuit planes of earlier eras in that it is a compact, single seat, single engine design made for air-to-air combat superiority.
The Air Force requirement for a light-weight fighter in 1972 set the General Dynamics YF-16 against the Northrup YF-17 and the YF-16 emerged from competition victorious. Two prototypes took to the air in 1976 flew in excess of Mach 2, pulled 9-Gs regularly, fired missiles both at supersonic and subsonic speeds, dropped MK 84 bombs and fired 12,900 rounds from their 20mm Vulcans in 330 missions during 417 hours. The tests included fourteen hours straight of supersonic speeds without incident and topped 60,000 feet in altitude.
YF-16 Prototype
The heart of the F-16C is its Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 of 29,000 lb thrust with afterburning. P & W's F100 is an axial flow, low bypass, high compression, twin spool engine featuring an annular combustor and common flow afterburner. It has a three-stage fan driven by a two-stage turbine. Its small diameter (36") and low weight (3,020 lb.) produce a superior thrust-to-weight ratio of eight-to-one. The General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan of the same specs is used in later model F-16Ns used by the Navy in Top Gun adversary roles.
Maximum speed is 1,320 mph/2,124 kph at 40,000 feet. With maximum internal/external fuel it can range as far as 2,415 miles. Its normal combat radius is 575 miles. The service ceiling exceeds 50,000 feet.
The 18,218 pound plane empty can more than double its weight to a maximum loaded mass of 42,300 lbs. But it is a small fighter at 49.23 feet long with a 32.8 foot wingspan. The total wing area is 300 square feet, duplicate to the P-47D.
Internal ordnance consists of the M61A Vulcan 20mm mounted just aft of the pilot on the port side with 515 rounds, or about five seconds of gun time. Externally the F-16 mounts its stores on one fuselage and six under-wing hardpoints plus two more on the wingtips for the AIM-9 or AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. 20,450 lbs of ordnance can be attached to the stub-winged bird and an amazing 11,950 lbs can be strapped on for 9-G sorties. This plane can ingress with a load of bombs, maneuver, deliver its load, and egress clean as an air superiority weapon.
"G" Can It Maneuver
The high-G capabilities are not limited by human barriers. The seat is angled at 30 degrees and feet are raised six inches over standard cockpit layouts allowing more force to be exerted on the pilot than his opponent. The side-stick controller improves G-force tolerance and more precise maneuvers. The fly-by-wire system provides easier maintenance and improved handling; better response and reliability equaling enhanced survivability. Vital fire controls integrate in the flight controller design so there is no reaching around in combat.
The clear-view bubble canopy is a fighter pilot's dream allowing a look-back-or-down ability that is unrivaled. Its side bulges are reminiscent of the P-51B's Malcolm hood in their function.
Part of the superior maneuvering rate comes from Relaxed Static Stability (RSS). As the aerodynamic center shifts aft when flying supersonic or in hard maneuvering, the center of balance is not upset to the degree of other designs. A 15 percent higher supersonic and 8 percent subsonic turn rate is realized and longitudinal control and power available is enhanced.
Automatic leading edge flaps deploy depending on speed and angle of attack allowing higher lift, lower drag, improved directional stability and better buffet characteristics. The Bf 109's slats were remote ancestors. Even the inlet duct configuration assists low and high-speed handling minimizing stall risk and gun gas ingestion by way of shape and place of mount. The F-16 has no aerodynamic anomalies providing honest flight characteristics at all speeds. It goes where it is pointed.
A positive aspect of production was the use of off-the-shelf components in the engine and avionics. The F-16's F100 engine is the same as the tried-and-proven dual F100 engines used in the F-15. Many structural and control parts are reversible for use on the other side of the aircraft including 80 percent of the main landing gear. Manufactured parts were chosen for universal application and low cost. The modular design makes for easy sub-assembly from one facility to the next and multi-national assembly. This combines to make the F-16 a cost effective product compared to other types. Ease of maintenance was an Air Force specification and F16s perform there too.
The HUD is utilized for all weapon delivery. It incorporates a snap-shot and lead compensating gun sight, missile launch envelope display limits, point of weapon impact reference and blind delivery aided by a Pave Penny pod to assist laser-guided ordnance. The usual performance and energy management info is displayed also.
APG-68 radar, developed under the multi-national improvement program, is used beginning with the F-16C. Target acquisition/detection and angle/range show in clear or cluttered environments on a head-down video display.
ECM, reconnaissance, and targeting pods attach to the centerline hardpoint depending on the mission role.
Egyptian F-16C
The F-16C, being primarily an air superiority fighter, replaced the aging F-104s used by several European air forces. Trading up to the F-16C gives them not only the F-104's speed performance, but the multi-role ability and maneuverability as well. Coupled with low cost, ease of repair and all modern systems the Fighting Falcon is a bargain.
The "B" is a two-seat trainer version that was converted from the original batch of "A" models. The "D" is a two-seat variant that is capable of still further missions with it advanced, additional avionics and weapons systems capabilities. All performance is retained and weights remain equal to the "C." There was no extended fuselage section on the "B" or "D" though structural improvements to maintain G performance and maximum weights were accomplished. The aft cockpit position is incorporated into the original dimensions so total aircraft length is the same. This version will replace aged RF-4C Phantoms in recon activities and expand its multi-role tasks. There simply was no way a single pilot could operate all the added gear or fit it into the single cockpit layout.
Falcon Clone
The Republic of China designed a virtually identical copy in the silhouette of its AIDC Ching-Kuo IDF (Indigenous Defense Fighter). Save for the big F-16 inlet, the profile is the same. This reflects on the fact that General Dynamics brought in support for airframe design/construction. The dual inlets on the IDF resemble those of the F-18—below and aft of the cockpit.
F-16 Chinese Style
Twin Garrett/AIDC TFE 1042-70 turbofans with 9,460 lb thrust in afterburning power the fighter with nearly equal dimensions to the F-16. Its loaded weight is only 20,000 lbs. Top Speed is but 792 mph/1,275 kph though the ceiling is a healthy 55,000 ft. Its six hardpoints carry a variety of missiles, cannon and rocket pods. An identical Vulcan rests in the port fuselage in roughly the same position as that of the F-16.
F-16 3-View
Again, the type was conceived to replace the ROC's old F-104s and F5EIIs. With the announcement that F-16s would be sold to Taiwan the production was cut back to 130 aircraft.
F-16 Victories
During the 1991 Gulf War F-16s were in constant service but did not score any aerial victories. The F-15s accounted for almost all of the 46 with one MiG 21 going to an F-18, two Mirage F-1s claimed by F-111s, and an Mil-8 and a MBB Bo-105 taken out by two A-10s. Later, with the "no-fly" rule in effect against the Iraqis in 1992, F-16D pilot Gary Lewis destroyed a MiG 25 with an AMRAAM and in 1993 an F-16C with Craig Stevenson at the controls took out a MiG 29 with an AMRAAM.
F-16A
1988's Afganistan Conflict saw Pakistani Air Force F-16A pilot Ather Bokhari claim an SU-25, Badar Islam an SU-22, Abdul Razzaq an AN-26, A. Qadri two SU-22s, Muhammed Khattak an AN-26, and top-dog F-16 scorer Khalid Mahmood got two MiG 23s, and Su-22 and an AN-24. In the 1992 Venezuela Coup Beltran Vielma's F-16 knocked down two OV-10 Broncos. During the 1992 Yugoslav Civil War Steven Allen and Robert Wright each claimed a Yugoslav SOKO G-4 Galeb over Bosnia. In the 1999 Kosovo Intervention Nebojsa Nikolic, of the Yugoslavian Air Force, downed a MiG 29 in an F-16C. The 1982 War in Lebanon shows Israeli claims in F-16As with Uri Gil and Ze'ev Raz each taking out a Syrian MiG and Amir Nahumi claiming six undisclosed types and a Syrian MiG 21 in a previous skirmish in 1981 making him the top known F-16 scorer. Click HERE for a complete listing of aces and victories claimed in most of the recorded aerial conflicts of history.
With about 5,000 so far produced and in service with some twenty countries it will be a long while until they are relegated to museums. Until then the final chapters have yet to be written on this superb fighter conceived with performance and simplicity in mind.
Bibliography:
Air Combat Staff
"F-16"
Air Combat, July 1975 Vol. 3 No. 4
Challenge Publications, Canoga Park, CA
Gunston, Bill
The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes
Aerospace Publishing Limited, London, 1995
Taylor, John & Swanborough, Gordon
Military Aircarft of the World
Charles Scribner's Son, N.Y., 1979
(This book is out of print)
Wood, Derek
Jane's World Aircraft
Jane's Information Group, Inc., UK, 1992
(This book is out of print)
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