Dave, wasn’t the F-16XL with the “cranked-delta wing” General Dynamic’s entry into the program that ultimately yielded the F-15E Strike Eagle? I think I remember reading that somewhere...
“Dave, wasn’t the F-16XL with the “cranked-delta wing” General Dynamic’s entry into the program that ultimately yielded the F-15E Strike Eagle?”
Yep, that’s it. They also wanted to enter it into the ATF competition as they felt it could have been modified to meet all requirements of the contract for about 50 -60 mil a copy. They were told no by the pentagon though because they wanted all new, not modified older. Dumd decision looking back, especially when zero closed f-22 production at 183 airframes this year.
F-16XL was an interesting idea, they demonstrated an aircraft turn with fuel and a full load of bombs in 30 minutes. Was, to my knowledge, the first aircraft with automatic hydraulic sway bracing.
Those were happy days.