[gcruse]

The reference refers to the F16s ability to outfly the pilot and, before g-limiting software, cause them to lose consciousness and plow into the ground. If anything, it was a compliment to the F16s amazing maneuverability as a dogfighter.

When i was doing some photo work for the fighter factory in Fort Worth, they told me that the F-16 is built such that is always wants to climb and that if it was not for the computer making constant corrections, the thing would be almost impossible to fly.

[GeronL]

that if it was not for the computer making constant corrections, the thing would be almost impossible to fly

If I understand correctly, all modern jets would be impossible to fly without a computer...

[r9etb]

When i was doing some photo work for the fighter factory in Fort Worth, they told me that the F-16 is built such that is always wants to climb and that if it was not for the computer making constant corrections, the thing would be almost impossible to fly.

The technical term for this is "dynamically unstable."

The difference between "stable" and "unstable" aircraft is just this: if you make no control inputs to a stable aircraft, it will fly in a nice, steady attitude. If you make no control inputs to an unstable one, it will lose its attitude almost immediately.

Here's your handy, do-it-yourself demonstration.

1. Make a paper airplane and throw it. A well-made plane will fly straight and level: it's stable.

2. Throw an unfolded piece of paper. It will flutter and flap and fall to the floor: it's unstable.

Modern fighter jets are pretty much all designed to be unstable. For one thing, it makes them much more agile. Second of all, it allows the designers to achieve some high-speed aerodynamics that they couldn't otherwise achieve.