F-16 VISTA

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F-16 VISTA
Type Experimental fighter
Manufacturer General Dynamics
(later Lockheed Martin)
Number built 1
Developed from F-16 Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 VISTA ("Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft") program, which ran from 1988 to 1997, began as a privately funded joint venture between General Electric and General Dynamics, to produce a Multi-Axis Thrust-Vectoring (MATV) variant of the Fighting Falcon.

The F-16 VISTA testbed aircraft incorporated a multi-axis thrust vectoring (MATV) engine nozzle that provides for more active control of the aircraft in a post-stall situation. The resulting aircraft is supermaneuverable, retaining pitch and yaw control at angles of attack beyond which the traditional control surfaces cannot change attitude.[citation needed]

The VISTA program was considered successful, but the thrust vector control (TVC) never made it into production fighter versions.[citation needed]

The program was also notable for the development of Direct Voice Input and the "Virtual HUD", which were both eventually to be incorporated into the cockpit design for the F-35 Lightning II.[1] The STOVL F-35 variants also incorporate MATV while hovering to provide attitude control.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Specifications (F-16C Block 30 - for comparison)

Orthographically projected diagram of the F-16.

Data from USAF sheet,[2] AerospaceWeb[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 49 ft 5 in (14.8 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
  • Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
  • Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
  • Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
  • Empty weight: 18,238 lb (8,272 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 26,463 lb (12,003 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (16,875 kg)
  • Powerplant:Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan
    • Dry thrust: 14,590 lbf (64.9 kN)
    • Thrust with afterburner: 23,770 lbf (105.7 kN)
  • Alternate powerplant:General Electric F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
    • Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
    • Thrust with afterburner: 28,985 lbf (128.9 kN)

Performance


[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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