Skip Top nav bar link group topnav end piece go to business section go to education section go to history section go to gallery section go to news section go to organizations section go to research section go to search engine go to site index topnav end piece
NASA Meatball NASA Dryden Dryden Fleet Aircraft banner
DFRC F-16 fleet and support crew 1997 - F-16XL Ship #2, F-16A, AFTI F-16, and F-16XL Ship #1 DFRC F-16 fleet and support crew 1997 - F-16XL Ship #2, F-16A, AFTI F-16, and F-16XL Ship #1

Photo Number: EC97-44293-3

Photo Date: September 29, 1997

Formats: 519x480 JPEG Image (116 KBytes)
1108x1024 JPEG Image (544 KBytes)
3000x2772 JPEG Image (4,003 KBytes)

Description:

Four different versions of the F-16 were used by Dryden in the 1990s. On the left and right sides are two F-16XLs. On the left is the F-16XL #2 (NASA 848), which is the two-seat version, used for advanced laminar flow studies until late 1996. On the right is the single-seat F-16XL #1 (NASA 849), used for laminar flow research and sonic boom research. (Laminar flow refers to smooth airflow over a wing, which increases lift and reduces drag compared to turbulent airflow). Between them at center left is an F-16A (NASA 816), the only civilian operated F-16. Next to it at center right is the U.S. Air Force Advance Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16, a program to test new sensor and control technologies for future fighter aircraft. Both F-16XLs are in storage at Dryden. The F-16A was never flown at Dryden, and was parked by the entrance to the center. The AFTI F-16 is in the Air Force Museum.


NASA Photo by: Tony Landis

Keywords: F-16XL Ship #2; F-16A; AFTI F-16; F-16XL Ship #1



Last Modified: December 22, 2004
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
Curator: PAO Webmasters

NASA Website Privacy Statement