Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Hi,

I was comparing drawings just now and I noticed the tailfin on the C model looks taller then on the A model. Is this correct?

Regards,

Lieuwe

F-16.net Sponsor

No. In fact the basic vertical tail geometry is the only part of the airplane whuch has remaind unchanged from YF-16 through Block 60, including CCV, XL, AFTI, VISTA, etc. Basic geometry means span, root chord, tip chord, sweep angle, etc.

There are some minor differences. The lower part of the vertical stab is longer on c/d's than a/b's. Also are the models that have dragchutes installed. Other than that, there is nothing different. If you were referring to the horizontal stabs, then yes early F-16's had smaller ones until the block 10 came out. Earlier block 5's were changed to the larger ones later on.

Yes, there are minor differences, but the lower part of of the vertical tail is not longer, though it is wider. The larger horizontal tails were originally installed on Block 15, not Block 10. The first set of larger tails was installed on a Block 10 airplane for flight testing. In flight test, the airplanes were referred to as manufacturing sequence rather than tail number, so that airplane was F-16A #271.

Ok! Thanks for the answers guys, I guess the drawings I had were just wrong then. I had the same idea but wasn't sure Smile

Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Question about C tailfin vs A tailfin