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F-16XL Ship #1

Dryden's F-16XL-1 aircraft (tail number 849) testbed aircraft supported several flight research projects during the 1990s. The XL-1 aircraft was upgraded with a new Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) in 1997. The DFCS upgrade allowed NASA's F-16XL-1 the flexibility needed to perform experiments which required major new flight control functions or capabilities.
F-16XL#1 Home Page

DFRC Photo # Photo Date Image Description
  Skip links in main table F-16XL Ship #1 Photo Collection Contact Sheet
Digital Flight Control System (DFCS)
EC97-44354-1 December 16, 1997 F-16XL ship #1 (#849) takes off for first flight of the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS)
EC97-44354-2 December 16, 1997 F-16XL ship #1 (#849) with Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) in flight over desert
EC97-44354-3 December 16, 1997 F-16XL ship #1 (#849) during first flight of the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS)
EC97-44354-4 December 16, 1997 F-16XL ship #1 (#849) during first flight of the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS)
EC96-43418-3 February 15, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 in flight over desert
EC94-42885-1 December 1994 F-16XL ship #1 in flight
EC95-42960-4 February 15, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 landing with drag chute
EC92-09032-2 September 3, 1992 F-16XL Ship #1 in flight - used for laminar airflow studies
EC95-42960-5 February 15, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 landing with drag chute
EC95-43029-1 1995 F-16XL in hangar
ED95-43029-5 March 8, 1995 F-16XL in hangar
F-16XL Ship #1 - Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project (CAWAP)
EC96-43508-2 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 5 degrees, altitude 10,000 feet
EC96-43508-6 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 10 degrees, beta -5 degrees, altitude 10,000 feet
EC96-43508-9 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight
EC96-43508-10 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight
EC96-43508-14 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 21 degrees, altitude 17,500 feet
EC96-43508-16 March 4, 1996 F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 15 degrees, altitude 5,000 feet
EC96-43401-2 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP outboard rake #7
EC96-43401-3 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP outboard rake #7
EC96-43401-5 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP outboard rakes #7 and inboard rack #3
EC96-43422-5 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer hot film, left wing
EC96-43422-6 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer rakes and hot film on left wing
EC96-43422-7 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer rakes and hot film on left wing
EC96-43422-8 February 1996 F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer rakes and hot film on left wing
F-16XL Ship #1 - Pressure belts
EC95-43350-9 November 27, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 wing showing "strip of tubing" pressure belts
EC95-43350-10 November 27, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 wing showing "strip of tubing" pressure belts, side view
EC95-43350-1 November 27, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 wing close-up showing "strip of tubing" pressure belts
EC95-43350-6 November 27, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 wing close-up showing boundary layer detection Preston tubes
EC95-43350-14 November 27, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 crew
F-16XL Ship #1 - SR-71 Sonic Boom Tests
EC95-42960-1 February 15, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 and SR-71 in formation flight with afterburner studying the characteristics of sonic booms
EC95-43024-2 March 22, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 and SR-71 in formation flight studying the characteristics of sonic booms
EC95-43024-3 March 22, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 and SR-71 in formation flight studying the characteristics of sonic booms
EC95-43024-7 March 22, 1995 F-16XL ship #1 and SR-71 in formation flight studying the characteristics of sonic booms
EC95-43024-5 1995 F-16XL ship #1 and SR-71 in formation flight studying the characteristics of sonic booms
Dryden F-16 Fleet
EC95-42939-8 1995 DFRC F-16 fleet 1995 - F-16A, F-16XL, AFTI F-16
EC95-42939-3 1995 F-16 XL #1, #2 and AFTI - and support crew
EC95-42939-5 1995 F-16 XL #1, #2 and AFTI - and support crew
EC97-44293-1 September 29, 1997 DFRC F-16 fleet 1997 - F-16XL Ship #2, F-16A, AFTI F-16, and F-16XL Ship #1
EC97-44293-3 September 29, 1997 DFRC F-16 fleet and support crew 1997 - F-16XL Ship #2, F-16A, AFTI F-16, and F-16XL Ship #1

Additional Information

Previously, the aircraft was used in a program to investigate the characteristics of sonic booms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. During the series of sonic boom research flights, the F-16XL was used to probe the shock waves being generated by a NASA SR-71 and record their shape and intensity. Data from the program could be used in the development of a high speed civilian transport.

The F-16XL aircraft were built by General Dynamics Corp. as prototypes for a derivative fighter evaluation program conducted by the Air Force between 1982 and 1985. The aircraft were developed from basic F-16 airframes. The most notable difference is the delta (cranked arrow) wing which give the aircraft a greater range because of increased fuel capacity in the wing tanks, and a larger load capability due to increased wing area.

The single-seat F-16XL aircraft is powered by a Pratt and Whitney 100-PW-100 engine (with afterburner), rated at 23,830 pounds thrust, and features an analog fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. The delta (cranked arrow) wings on both aircraft provide strength for high wing loads during flight. The aircraft's dimensions are; length, 54.2 feet (16.52 m); wingspan, 34.3 feet (10.45 m); height at vertical tail, 17.7 feet (5.39 m). The aircraft's maximum weight is 48,000 pounds (17915.60 kg), has a design load of 9 "Gs" (In the research configuration, 3 "Gs"), and has a top design speed Mach 1.8.

F-16XL Fact Sheet
F-16XL Flight Research Project Information
F-16XL Ship #2 Aircraft Photo Gallery




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