© NASA
First flown in 1982 the F-16XL could be dusted off and take to the skies again
Posted on 07/10/2007 9:09:34 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
NASA could put F-16XL back in the air
By John Croft
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Centre is examining the feasibility of returning to flight one of two unique cranked-arrow wing F-16XLs kept in "flyable" storage for a decade.
The agency hopes to award Lockheed Martin a contract to study the cost of upgrading and returning Ship #1, the single-seat F-16XL, to flying condition to help with research into sonic boom propagation and mitigation.
Upgrading the aircraft - first flown in 1982 - to a standard similar to the US Air Force's Block 40 F-16s would make it easier to support. "We're blowing off the dust and putting air in the tyres," says NASA.
In 1996 and 1997, NASA used both aircraft to study supersonic boom and laminar flow as part its High Speed Research programme, which was cancelled in 1999.
General Dynamics originally built the two prototypes to demonstrate supersonic cruise and the F-16XL was offered to the USAF in a competition ultimately won by McDonnell Douglas with the F-15E.
If the price is right and NASA headquarters approves, Dryden officials say the F-16XL could be back in the air by late this year. In the meantime, they are planning a series of taxi tests, which do not require headquarters approval.
© NASA
First flown in 1982 the F-16XL could be dusted off and take to the skies again
I loved this airplane and hoped it would fly again. Sort of a F-16 meets Saab 35 Draken cross.
Look, it’s the EuroFighter prototype sans canards.
Not quite as good, due to the canards. The cranked arrow wing is more like the F-22’s.
I like the 27 underwing hardpoints (only 16 shown here).
It really is good engineering, as well as being a gorgeous airplane. The Draken's designers were able to get the benefits of the delta configuration, but also have slow speed handling and take off performance. Considering the needs of the Swedish airforce to have a high speed interceptor that is able to use the highway system as runways, I think they did a very good job of finding a workable compromise. The other ways to overcome some of the delta's disadvantages are with a very well designed canard or an evolution of the Draken's approach like what is used on the F-18 and F-22.
Are you talking about performance or looks???The Canards are meant to compensate for the Delta-wings disadvantages.That’s why they figure on pretty much most new (non-US) fighters.
Looks.
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