Forum: F-16 Procedures

This should be a simple question for anyone that has flown an F-16.

I want to know if the the heels or toes are used to apply rudder. As we know, with most aircraft the heels are for rudder, and the toes for wheel brakes.

From looking at an actual F-16 pedal set, it appears that heels are nose wheel steering only, and the toe brakes are actually used to control the rudder in flight. This seems highly unusual to me; could anyone verify this?

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Ever watch a F-16 taxi, for some dumb reason, the rudder seems to move everytime the plane turns as well, the rudder pedals control both. Just the rudder while in flight and rudder and nose wheel on the ground. If you have a T.O., you can see how this magic happens. Brake activation is just like on all airplanes, you apply it with your toes on the rudder pedals.

Well, that's a relief to know. Still can't see how this magic is performed from looking at the pedal set, and I can't convince my coworkers it works normally. I could get the [Link pending approval] if I knew what number it is.

The manual I have shows the two transducers at the top of the unit and lables them as being for both brakes and rudder. If you push with the heels of your feet, it actuates a single transducer at the bottom, labled "nose wheel [Link pending approval];

mckenzy7 wrote:

Ever watch a F-16 taxi, for some dumb reason, the rudder seems to move everytime the plane turns as well, the rudder pedals control both. Just the rudder while in flight and rudder and nose wheel on the ground. If you have a T.O., you can see how this magic happens. Brake activation is just like on all airplanes, you apply it with your toes on the rudder pedals.

Some dumb reason???? Neutral

Or maybe not dumb. Such as on take off when NWS isn't used anymore and oh, lets say...the pilot wants to keep the aircraft pointed down the runway with only the rudder.

Wink

I checked the HUD tape from my ride, my pilot said "nose wheel steering coming off" at aboue 75 or so knots. Does it get too sensative any faster than that?

Why don't we just break out the schematics on this blog and just show him, if he has access to the T.O., then it is plain and simple for him to figure it out for him self, if not then he don't need to know and he can just play Falcon 4.0 and be happy.

I actually have both schematics and the need to know, but it is not that clear looking at them. I'm trying to figure this out because I'm refurbishing/rehosting an old F-16 trainer for the Air Force.

Last edited by SixerViper on May 07, 2009 - 03:30 AM; edited 1 time in total

A pilot flying an airplane with toe brakes shoves his heels against the bottom of the rudder pedals when he wants to use the brakes and applies them with his toes. This way he can steer the airplane with his heels while slowing it down with the brakes--or steering it with differential braking as required by single-engine Cessnas.

When he wants to use the rudder without the brakes, he puts his heels further back on the floor and pushes on the lower half of the rudder pedals with his toes. At least, that's how I fly an airplane. This technique comes from having to steer the airplane on takeoff roll without applying the brakes.

If you really want a thrill, try landing a taildragger in a stiff crosswind with HEEL brakes! They're not even part of the rudder pedal assembly.

I'm embarrassed to say that I've pretty much forgotten exactly how the rudder pedals on the Viper work--I believe the same transducer used for moving the rudder also commands NWS. There is another transducer on the rudder pedal assembly that I think is dedicated to the CSFDR. And, of course, a pot on each pedal for that wheel's brake. I hope that by being retired now I haven't forgotten too much!!

Salute

Sheeesh.

The pedals move maybe a half an inch. The LVTD doofers convert pressure to brakes or rudder/steering.

The top part is just like 1937 Champs or Luscombs or 60's jets. Basic "toe brakes".

So using only your toes puts on brakes. Using your foot's arch or heels at the bottom part of the pedals commands rudder/yaw/turn.

We disconnected nose-wheel-steering after the rudder became effective. Same as every jet since WW2.

Gums sends ...

Well, I got'er all figured out today, thanks for all of the useful comments. It turns out I was right in thinking it works in a conventional manner, and my coworkers were wrong. The documentation we were looking at was a training manual dated 1978, and was less than accurate. The rudder transducer was also missing from the assembly, further confusing maters.

Turns out, on the bottom of the assembly there is an LVDT for rudder, and a pot for NWS. On the top of the assembly there are two more LVDT's for the right and left toe brakes. Talking in person to a reserve F-16 pilot verified that it works the way I thought it should, and the way all of you thought. Travel is actually slightly less than a third of an inch for all functions. Rudder responds to any amount of foot pressure, while the toe brakes have to be moved about 1/16 inch before they kick in.

As for NWS, pilots handbook states to turn it off at 70 knots, but one pilot told me he hits the NWS button as soon as the needle moves off the peg, which would be close to the same.

As an added bonus for this board, he told me knife edge flight can be achieved by rolling the plane on its side with ailerons, and applying a good amout of top rudder, but significantly less than full rudder will sustain it. Rudder is only used for combat and aerobatic manuevers.

Forum: F-16 Procedures

F-16 Pedal Operation