Can the F-16 recover from a Flat Spin?

Just wondering if the F-16 is capable of recovering from a flat spin. I know that twin engine aircraft can shut one engine off and that should help slow the spinning, but in the single engine Vipers that obviously is not possible. Is there a method that is used to recover F-16s or any other single engine aircraft from flat spins or must they simply eject.

Nightmare,

A Viper can recover from a flat spin. A flat spin happened quite a lot with early versions of the F-16, namely the ones with the small stabilo flying at high AOA. This is one of the reasons why the larger one was installed at later versions. Even an early block F-16 could recover from a flat spin by conducting a series of control imputs by the pilot). With the later variants (large stabilo and digital fly-by-wire system) things got a bit easier. The aircraft itself gives the correct control imputs. Off course, all recoveries from flat spins demand a certain energy level and altitude of the aircraft. When a flat spin happens at low altitude, the only thing to do is JUMP.

Greets,

Nightmare,

you might be interested in the <a href="http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=125&page=1">interview with Maj. Russ Prechtl</A> on this site - he was a test pilot at the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards, and describes recovering from a spin with a 85 degree/sec yaw rate.

Alright I will check that article out thank you

After reading that article, I need to add that in Falcon 4.0 there is no spin chute...does anybody know what the stick inputs should be?

To recover from a flat spin you can try the following:

1. Chop throttle to idle.
2. Center the stick.
3. Check flaps up and raise flaps if needed.
4. Check gear up and raise gear if needed.
5. Apply full rudder opposite the direction of the spin.
6. Apply full ailerons opposite the spin.
7. Timing it with the spin, alternately apply forward and backward stick to rock the plane.
8. The plane will stop spinning and enter a dive.
9. Center the controls.
10. Gently pull up wings level (about 3-4 Gs) to level flight. Listen for the stall horn.

Alright thanks Whity I will give that a try in Falcon 4. See if it works for me.

Just wanted you to know Whity, F-16's don't have ailerons. I'm not an expert or anything, but you know just InfoU

Zarband wrote:F-16's don't have ailerons.

You are absolutely right, strictly spoken the F-16 has no ailerons, but only flaperons (the F-22 does have both).

As I'm sure you will know, they are located on the trailing-edges of the flaps and they serve the double purpose of high-lift <b>flaps</b> and <b>ailerons</b> for lateral control (flap/ailerons, hence the name <b>flaperons</b>).

I have read reports of the MCID (big mouth) intake causing problems when it was first introduced/tested. IIRC departure at high AOA with a certain external stores configuration, possibly just a centerline tank. The larger dimensions of the intake lip caused (aerodynamic) interactions with the strakes, and the flight control laws were modified accordingly. Anyone else know anything about this?

GregD

Russ "Cranky" Prechtl was in my junior class.

The F-16 has a high potential for departure with certain configurations. The most common departure with the B/D/F models that have a centerline and an assymetrical weapons load, (i.e. station 1 with a missle and nothing on station 9) and AOA above 26 degrees at an airspeed of less than 160 knts.
It is a center of gravity issue. The heavier the aft the CG is the more likely the departure. The MCID(big mouth) intakes puts the CG farther aft. The corrections that the software engineers made puts limters on the Flight Controls system to lessen the probability of departure.

Whity wrote:To recover from a flat spin you can try the following:

...
5. Apply full rudder opposite the direction of the spin.
6. Apply full ailerons opposite the spin.
7. Timing it with the spin, alternately apply forward and backward stick to rock the plane.

I have come across a flat spin in a Spitfire IX on Aces High 2 (www.flyaceshigh.com) serveral times. This is like apples and oranges but it still looks to me like there should be a similarity in the recovery. I do all the steps you said except for rudder in opposite direction of spin. I can't recover it when I do rudder opposite. I must apply rudder into the spin. Someone fill me in on what the difference is?

The difference lies in that the spitfire has a rudder that actually responds to pilot inputs during all phases of flight. If you were to touch the rudder during a departure in the Viper, the jet would completely ignore you.

As far as raising the flaps, why would you ever be flying around with TEFs extended at any point during the flight? I've never used the TEF switch in the Viper. Ever.

As far as raising the gear, I'm not sure if you could get the AOA required to depart the jet with Takeoff/Landing Gains enabled. I suppose it's possile though.

Just some thoughts on Viper departures.

PC flight sims vs. Real World - 'nuff said.