Forum: F-16 News

As reported on the site as Auto-GCAS approved for block 40 F-16s. a follow up from Air Force Times.

AirForceTimes wrote:

Software prevents fatal crashes, scientists say

By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 9, 2009 11:02:06 EST

[...]

Every year, one or two pilots die because they couldn’t get their bearings in time. Now, scientists for the Air Force and Lockheed Martin Corp. think they can virtually eliminate those fatal accidents with onboard computer software that takes control of the Fighting Falcon when it goes into a deadly dive.

[...]

The F-16’s flight control system activates the software when it determines — by comparing altitude, speed and direction with a virtual map of the terrain below — that the plane is within 1.5 seconds of crashing.

The software pulls the fighter into a 5-G climb until it reaches a safe altitude and is flying level. Only then does the computer return control to the pilot.

[...]

source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/ ... n_110809W/

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I thought a system like this was installed years ago. I even saw a program on Discovery Channel showing the HUD symbols of two arrows moving horizontally towards each other at the center of the HUD until they met, and then the flight control system would take over and pitch the nose up.

Why would one not choose to have this software in other fighters? I can see that the F-22 will rarely do straifing, but the Marines will definitly do a lot with their FA-18's and F-35B's with a gun pod. Basically if the fighter has a gun and does ground attack with it, it should have the system.

It may be that the 1.5 second before crash window may have to be speed adjusted to fit the flight profile.

Quote:

An F-16 pilot takes aim at a ground target, losing track of just how steep and low his jet is. Too confused to eject, he crashes.

What happened to the old Ground Clobber warning? WTF

It's a neat feature...if you can temporarily override it. If you've become GLOC'd close to the weeds and need Hal to save your bacon then yes, by all means, please and thank ya. But in combat down low (I know, I know....we don't get down THAT close anymore, but still...) if you're dancin' around trying to evade some threat and Hal thinks you might ground clobber and takes the jet away from ya, what's to stop some MANPAD or ZSU shooter from pluggin' ya?

I'm just sayin...give the driver the override option or find a way for Hal to look at what the jet is doin' to determine if you're close to Mama Earth on purpose (in which case he butts out) or just along for the ride while the Earth gets bigger faster (where he recovers the jet). And how does it distinguish between an imminent impact from loss of SA or GLOC and an intentional high-ish sink rate during a particular attack profile that calls for it? Shrug

My

The old ground clobber warning required the RALT...a device that emits and gives you away. One reason is so you can turn it off. ANother reason this is better is becasue it predicts the terrain in front of you using DTED....the RALT looks stright down. If the system sees you approaching a cliff in the dark, it can predict impact and pull you up in time. Yes, I know, Nogs should prevent that, but I trying to use simple examples.