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Hi guys, I remember in a book a long while ago seeing a photo of a F-16 development airframe carrying Sparrows.

But not any normal way... these sparrows were fuselage mounted! Now what I would like to know is why these were never implemented operationally?

I cannot find a photo of what I mean on the net, the only reference is below image.

Any info appreciated. Thanks.

Andy

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Hi Andy,

I don't know of any Sparrows - some literature refers to the Sky Flash tests in the late '70's as being with Sparrows but some of the US guys maybe able to add extra info. I posted a couple of images of those here: www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-1528-postdays-0-postorder-asc-start-15.html

There was another post late last year with some better images; can someone add that link please. Smile

Edit: Never mind, here it is:
www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=83404

Andy, I don't know about the prototypes, but I've worked the weapons systems on all blocks, 10 through 60 and you can only fire air to air missiles from sta.'s 1,2,3a,7a,8 & 9. 3a & 7a are actually the same hardpoint station as 3 & 7 you just connect the harness from the rail to a different connector, hence 3a & 7a. To the best of my recollection(which gets worse and worse these days) the last time my unit fired sparrows was in the early or mid 90's and we shot them from 3a or 7a off a 501 rail. This was a pylon that looked similar to a wing weapons pylon except it was pointy at the forward tip and had a rail for firing sparrows and aim-9's.

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Shoulder pylon sparrows?