Forum: F-16 versus XYZ

Well to be honest an F-16 isn't all that fast. Top speed was not a design criteria. I'm going from memory here but IIRC the inlet design limits the jet to a theoretical M2.5 but the canopy has not been tested/rated over M2.05. Someone can correct me here IIRI.

I'd have to check but, with the SR-71 retired, the fastest air-breathing platform (in the white world) is probably the MiG-31.

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Really? Are all the Recce versions of the MiG-25 out of service? Which is faster? Recce MiG-25 or MiG-31? Also how fast could the MiG-31 be with A2A weps on it?

Well, a MiG-25 was recorded at Mach 3 and given the similarities between the Foxbat and the Foxhound, you never know.

I thought the -31 *was* the recce version of the -25 interceptor? Don't really know much about the 25/31 series...

I once worked with a guy who used to work for Hughes - in 1976 he got a call to go get on an airplane, destination unspecified. He was a radar guy at Hughes, and they whisked him off to Japan to inspect the radar on Vic Belenko's MiG-25 before the defection was made public.

More about the MiG-31 Foxhound:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/7252/mig31.htm

The MiG-25 is still in service, at least in India. The MiG-31 is a modernized version of the MiG-25P (interceptor), with two crews instead of one and a much potent avionics. The recce versions of the Foxbat are, as far as I know, MiG-25R, RB, RBV and RBT. Officially, the recce Foxbats can reach 3000 kph (Mach2.83). However, I read some things stating they actually operate at faster speeds, and I know for sure that Pakistani fighters are still unable to intercept them.

Wildcat wrote:

The MiG-25 is still in service, at least in India. The MiG-31 is a modernized version of the MiG-25P (interceptor), with two crews instead of one and a much potent avionics.

I would argue that particular bit. The initial MiG-31 design was nothing like the Mig-25. At a point, it was even, invisioned as a tailless delta. Once practical issues prevailed, the MiG-31 ended up a lot like the MiG-25. And even their initial roles were quite different.
Whereas the MiG-25 was designed to counter the B-70, the MiG-31 was intended to shoot down low flying aircraft and cruise missiles.
I'll stop now coz I'm straying off-topic. Rolling Eyes

You're absolutely right: I wrote "modernized" to put it short, but the MiG-31 is a really great improvement over the original MiG-25 design. Only the basic configuration was kept.

The MiG did actually make it Mach 3 once, but it was a zoom speed, for a short period of time, and it utterly destroyed the engines. The real world limiting factor in the Blackbird's top speed was CIT. Compressor Inlet Temperature....max allowed was 427C. Depending on temp devs and air conditions, you could go past 3.5 Mach (which was done many times) without breaking a sweat. But as that CIT climbed up to 427, you'd start to sweat a bit. Not too shabby for an engine that sucks in 800F air to cool itself off! I can imagine what it did to the Klimovs.

I heard they couldn't use the plane after that. Laughing

The MiG-25 engines couldn't handle Mach 3.2 without suffering damage. The Blackbird family was in a class by itself of aircraft that could maintain those speeds for extended time, and repeatably.

Kevin
The Ejection Site

An F-16 Jet could reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 making it one of the fastest jets in the World.

As for the MiG-25 reece versions They are still in service, see Air Forces Monthly magazine issue no.181 of April 2003, it shows a MiG-25RBSh Foxbat-D landing with Shuts deployed to slow down the craft, also the Russian Air Force has decided to modernise the -31 interceptors for furthur years of front line service

Phoenix wrote:

I heard they couldn't use the plane after that. Laughing

Dunno about the airframe, but certainly not the engines, they were torn apart by the heat and stress. The fact that the Blackbirds could do this routinely, and with aplomb is a feat that will never be replicated in a convential aircraft. I know, never say never..... Given enough development time and money, I'm sure we could up with something in the future....in the future....the Blackbirds did this 40 YEARS AGO! Shocked

I pulled these #s out of a survey book on "interceptor" aircraft. I'm sure many may quibble about the exact numbers or configuration etc. My point earlier is that the F-16 wasn't built for speed. M2 is fast but is isn't the fastest, or even one of the fastest.

SR-71A - M3.5+
MiG-25 - M2.83
F-15C - M2.5+
MIG-23 - M2.35
F-14A - M2.34
Mirage 2000 - M2.3+
BAe Lightning - M2.27
F-4E - M2.25
F-4B - M2.25
MIG-29A - M2.23
F-104S - M2.2
Mirage IIIE - M2.2
Tornado - M2.2
F-4D - M2.16
MIG-21MF - M2.1
SU-15/21 - M2.1
JA-37 - M2.1
Mirage F1 - M2.2
F-16C - M2.05
F/A-18A - M1.8

There are I believe 2 jets ( F-16's) at edwards that run chase for the F-22 that are referred to as go-fast jets. They have completely different engines in them for the sole purpose of keeping up with the F-22.

By the way, the F-22 can cruise, without the use of aterburners, in excess of mach 1.5. love that supercruise technology.

Forum: F-16 versus XYZ

Speed of the F-16 versus other aircraft