Slow flight demo's - Why are the F-16 flaps up?

saberrider · by **saberrider** » 27 Aug 2019, 06:22

Why in slow demo's and higher AOA the F-16s flaps are up? The F-18 putting flaps down at demo's. Because if they are donw they could not able to show higher AOA?

jacarlsen · by **jacarlsen** » 27 Aug 2019, 07:14

Once I ask our test pilot about the slow flying at airshows. He said you just pull the stick continously back and the AOA limiter system keeps max AOA. You have to adjust the throttle to not sink. The flaperons are up as long as the landing gear is in and the alternate flap switch isn't engaged.

saberrider · by **saberrider** » 27 Aug 2019, 07:59

Thanks for answering so quickly.I seen the videos and H tail moving up and down with F16 at slow speed. Guess what is done by system to not overshot max AOA.

litzj · by **litzj** » 22 Sep 2019, 01:04

saberrider wrote:Why in slow demo's and higher AOA the F16s flaps are up? The F18 putting flaps down at demo's. Because if they are donw they could not able to show higher AOA?

F-16's airfoil is already cambered and generate a lot of lift even in small AoA.

So, engineers did not profiled flap operation in high AoA because it is vulnerable to stall and flow separation.

I think it would be enough answer for this.