Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Heya,

I have 2 questions:

I do seem to have trouble finding out when exactly the bigger horizontal stabs were applied. I suppose the BE F-16's had that reconversion the same time their F-16's were adapted with second hardpoints. But when exaclty did that happen ? Since I do find pictures all over the net with BE F-16's with small and other with big stabs.
About the MLU, I'd like to know what the most visible (so actually external) changes are that were made on the F-16's. And is there any difference between BE MLU and, let's say, NL MLU ?

TIA
greetz

F-16.net Sponsor

Hi Nessie,

Welcome to the forum.

To answer on your first question. The larger horizontal stab was introduced with the MSIP I. This Multi Stage Improvement Program was started with the introduction of the so-called 'block 15' on the productionline. For Belgium, the block 15 started, for the A-models, with FA-56, and for the B-models, with FB-13. All aircraft after these were build with the larger stabilo. Aircraft before these can be seen with the small stabs (block 1, 5, 10). In the early nineties, these aircraft received numerous upgrades to bring them up to block 15 standards. Since Belgium restructured its armed forces at that time, only a few aircraft with small stabs received the larger ones.

The second question. The most visible are the so-called 'bird slicers' in front of the canopy and also the removed landing lights. They can be found on the MLU on the front wheel door. That's realy all. Are there differences between a Dutch and Belgian MLU? They all have the same hardware configuration, but depending on the weaponsystem both countries employ, the software of the aircraft may differ. For example the Belgians use the CARAPACE ECM system, so these aircraft are optimized to use this system, while for example the Dutch use an Atlantis navigation pod on their aircraft, which the Belgian don't.

I hope this answers your questions.

Greets,

Oh and uh...MLU F-16s have their cockpits painted all black Wink

@Bjorn
Thanks a lot for your quick answer.

So if I understand it quite right, you could find MLU's with smaller stabilos?

'bout your second answer, removed the landing lights? Those on the main gear I suppose? And the larger 'bulb' underneath the jet intake? What is that supposed to be? not a part of the MLU it seems .

@Habu
Thanks, will keep this in mind Smile

greetz,

Habu wrote:

Oh and uh...MLU F-16s have their cockpits painted all black Wink

Well, almost all black. From the 5 to 6 I've worked, the floors and seat (except headrest) were 36270, or 36231 still. Also, on two I can ditinctly remember the sides of the consoles being gray too.

Mike

(sneaking in on holiday, hope the wife doesn't catch me)

When the larger rear stabs were added to Blk 15s as part of MSIP I it was to compensate for the change in CP (Center of Pressure) that could occur when carrying sensor pods on the stations 5L and 5R on either side of the inlet, also part of Blk 15 & MSIP I.

MLU added 5L and 5R to those airframes that has not undergone MSIP I so they should have received the larger rear stabs at that time. Also part of the MLU, the landing lights were moved from the main gear to the leading edge of the nose gear door so they would not be blocked by pods on 5L/5R, just like Blk 40 and up.

Well Nessie and also Habu2,

MLU indeed added the 5R and 5L points. So Habu2 should be right about the larger stab. But in fact there are Danish MLU aircraft with a small stab (no Belgian or Dutch or Portuguese, not sure about Norwegian). I don't know how this fit's into the story of shifted CG, but they exist, see below:

What I meant about the lights, yes they were removed from the main gear to the front gear. The larger bulb underneath the intake will only be found on Belgian F-16's. It's part of the CARAPACE ECM system.

Greets,

Hmmm, maybe the Danish don't intend to carry chin pods? Don't really know.

Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Horizontal stabs - MLU