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DFRC F-16 fleet 1995 - F-16A, F-16XL, AFTI F-16 DFRC F-16 fleet 1995 - F-16A, F-16XL, AFTI F-16

Photo Number: EC95-42939-8

Photo Date: February 2, 1995

Formats: 539x480 JPEG Image (95 KBytes)
1150x1024 JPEG Image (522 KBytes)
3000x2670 JPEG Image (4,987 KBytes)

Description: Photographed outside their hangar at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, part of Dryden's F-16 fleet is, left to right; an F-16A, the F-16XL no. 1, and the F-16 AFTI. The F-16A (NASA 516), the only civil registered F-16 in existence, was transferred to Dryden from Langley, and was primarily used in engine tests and for parts. It was subsequently transfered from Dryden.

The single-seat F-16XL no. 1 (NASA 849) was most recently used in the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project (CAWAP) to test boundary layer pressures and distribution. Previously it had been used in a program to investigate the characteristics of sonic booms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. Data from the program will be used in the development of a high speed civilian transport. 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.

The Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 was used to develop and demonstrate technologies to improve navigation and a pilot's ability to find and destroy enemy ground targets day or night, including adverse weather. Earlier research in the joint NASA-Air Force AFTI F-16 program demonstrated voice actuated controls, helmet-mounted sighting and integration of forward-mounted canards with the standard flight control system to achieve uncoupled flight.


Keywords: Dryden Fleet Aircraft; F-16; F-16A; F-16XL; F-16 AFTI; 516; 849; CAWAP; AFTI



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