AMRAAM's on station 1 and 9?

Thermal · by **Thermal** » 31 Aug 2012, 09:31

Hi there,

New here so if my question was already asked; my apologies, could not find it.

Have been wondering for some time why AMRAAM's are always fixed on stations 1 and 9 and the Sidewinders on stations 2 and 8?

Would seem more logical to hang the lighter missile on the most outer stations.

And wasn't it the other way around when the AMRAAM just came in to service?? Or is that my memory playing tricks on me?

Anyone???

Thanks

southernphantom · by **southernphantom** » 31 Aug 2012, 15:59

I vaguely remember hearing that it has some structural justification, but I honestly cannot remember what

johnwill · by **johnwill** » 31 Aug 2012, 17:27

I believe it is for flutter suppression considerations. The heavier missile with cg forward of wing twist axis, helps to suppress flutter bettsr. Before AMRAAM, the AIM-9 on the tip was better for flutter suppression than a clean tip.

tacf-x · by **tacf-x** » 01 Sep 2012, 03:22

Like johnwill said, it is an improvised aeroelastic feature intended to avoid what's called "flexure-torsion binary flutter" by keeping the CG of the wing forward of the twist axis. AMRAAM is longer and heavier and therefore when loaded it better shifts the CG forward of said axis than, say, a sidewinder.

Loader2088 · by **Loader2088** » 01 Sep 2012, 18:36

The real reason is that it's easier for weapons loaders to put the 'winder on Stations 2 and 8. ':wink:' That sucker's heavy!

fiskerwad · by **fiskerwad** » 02 Sep 2012, 03:28

Thermal wrote:Hi there,

New here so if my question was already asked; my apologies, could not find it.

Have been wondering for some time why AMRAAM's are always fixed on stations 1 and 9 and the Sidewinders on stations 2 and 8?

Would seem more logical to hang the lighter missile on the most outer stations.

And wasn't it the other way around when the AMRAAM just came in to service?? Or is that my memory playing tricks on me?

Anyone???

Thanks

You hit the mother lode, Thermal. johnwill, Roscoe, Gums, and outlaw weighed in on this one.
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-10820.html
fisk

Siesta · by **Siesta** » 03 Sep 2012, 19:33

Don't forget though that during Allied Force and OIF F-16s carried assymetrical loadouts 3XAIM-120 and a single AIM-9 or 4 X AIM1-120s.

wacopolumbo · by **wacopolumbo** » 04 Dec 2012, 22:55

Also, there is a lower Drag Index (DI) with the AIM-120s on the wingtips, believe it or not. Also, if you load 6 air to air missiles, the DI is much lower with the AIM-120s on the outboard stations (1,2,8,9) and the AIM-9s on 3 and 7. Lots of guys with 50 pound brains figuring it out. On a side note, the jet is faster (less drag) with 2 x MK84s vs. 6x MK82s.

Cheers,
Waco