Forum: F-16 Procedures

Hi All,

My questions may have been answered before in this forum, but being a newbie here I'm counting on your understanding. Wink

The information I'm requesting is twofold; firstly, is it always necessary to apply full AB during the takeoff (assuming average takeoff weight), secondly, is it a standard procedure to apply wheelbrakes while max-ing the throttle just prior to takeoff?

As for the first question I'm pretty sure most answers will say 'it depends'.
What makes me totally confused is the wheelbrakes issue, since the many sources I've consulted are split approx. 50 - 50 in their opinion.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Regards,
TClaymore

F-16.net Sponsor

TClaymore wrote:

...is it always necessary to apply full AB during the takeoff (assuming average takeoff weight). As for the first question I'm pretty sure most answers will say 'it depends'.

Depends.... Wink

(sorry, couldn't help myself). AB use will depend on the situation. Some loadouts will require burner given other factors like runway length, atmospherics, etc. In peace time, optional AB takeoffs need approval if it's gonna be done over a populated area, AFAIK. A lot of ANG bases share a civilian airport so they don't want to irk the neighbors, but it is done. Ya don't have as much of a restriction when you're at a base like, say, Cannon or Holloman that's situated away from civvies.

TClaymore wrote:

...is it a standard procedure to apply wheelbrakes while max-ing the throttle just prior to takeoff?

The end-of-runway runup doesn't go all the way to burner. The brakes are stepped on of course but the RPM is only spun up to something in the 80% area (depending on the engine model). This is to check basic engine performance prior to the roll. At brake release the throttle is then moved to MIL or MAX AB for the takeoff.

TC,

We'll also do rolling takeoffs sometimes, where the engine performance is checked as we accelerate (i.e. no 80% runup).

So...how much extra kick does AB give? I know it depends on a/c weight, but how much can AB shorten a takeoff role compared to MIL?

Ehh......The AB is a whole lotta extra kick. If I remember (cause this stuff is all calculated for us for the most part) you must use AB if your takeoff roll exceeds 50% of the total runway. So thats pretty easy to calculate using the -1 checklist or any locally produced spreadsheet. I am a GE-110 baby, now flying the GE-129, I've never done a 80% check there snaproll21, we do 90% checks in the GE.

Salute!

Good poop here.

I retired before we got the "big mouth" or the GE motors. So I only flew the initial Pratt version.

The 80% doofer was just to check a few parameters before releasing brakes and pushing up the throttle. Also made formation takeoffs a bit easier for the wingie.

We only used burner for "heavy weight" missions - like two external bags and some eggs, etc.

I laugh when seeing the 50% of available runway criteria. Guess it helps if you abort and take the departure end cable, huh?

In some other jets we had interesting numbers regarding takeoff power.

- In the A-7D, we routinely used over 85% of the available runway!!! heh heh. When computed roll was greater, we downloaded a few eggs. More than one pilot over-rotated and skipped off the overrun at Korat when the temp was over 100 deg. The T-33 was about the same, so I had practiced the gut-wrenching takeoffs a few times before flying the SLUF.

- In the F-101B, we used mil when the burner takeoff roll was LESS THAN 2,000 FEET!! This was back in mid-sixties and the bird weighed somethin like 54,000 pounds, and we rotated at 155 knots. Talk about a screaming jet, never saw anything like it until the Viper, and the Voodoo could prolly stay with the Viper to 200 knots. I also think it would beat the Viper from 35K to 50K. We climbed at M 1.33 once above 25K and the VV indicator was pegged.

- The A-37 used about 3000 feet fully loaded. On FCF hops, I got off the ground in about 800 feet, heh heh.

So short answer is what Mat and Snap said - it depends.

out,

I don't know... I close my eyes on takeoff too....

Cylon

Forum: F-16 Procedures

Takeoff procedure question