Forum: F-16 News

Tim wrote:

No gentlemen your not the only ones who realize the significance of this aircraft. Losing it would be like destroying an XB-70 Valkyrie. Someone SHOULD step up and see to it she has a resting place worthy of her contributions to the aviation world. Smithsonian, or Wright Pat would be to excellent options. Of course i would'nt rule out Edwards plane patch either.
I only wish I had the connections or $$$ to see to it she remains a big part of our history, and not just in photos, but somewhere i could take my grandkids to and point at with pride.
SAVE THE XL!! Varkvet, please get in touch with your contacts down at NASA and ask them for their assistance. I'm tired of seeing OUR history turned into razor blades and staples. Just my Two Cents

I’ll try and have an answer ASAP
Just beware that my sources are engineers working on projects other than the fighter side
However they are all experts on water cooler chit chat and usually have a clue about everything!

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POLE x 2 is what I'm hearing? Where? TBD I'm sure!

Edwards and NASA seems likely places??

I'm glad people are using their head on that decision.

Probably better off kept in Pole display at NASA & Edwards vice abandoned to be scrapped. In the USAF Museum, there is a F-15 Streak Eagle kept in storage due to lack of display space. It would be better for this aircraft to be hoisted up the rafters of the Udvar Hazy Museum where people can draw a connection to this unique aircraft that set speed records in February 1975. Of course, I would expect Mig killing F-15 and F-16 (single Mig killer to join single Mig killer F-4J and F-14D.) to eventually take space.

Neither XL is scheduled to be scrapped, XL-2 will be going to the AF museum at Wright-Pat and XL-1 will be staying at Dryden until further notice. In fact, XL-1 will be on display at the Edwards Open House in Oct.

nasatom wrote:

Neither XL is scheduled to be scrapped, XL-2 will be going to the AF museum at Wright-Pat and XL-1 will be staying at Dryden until further notice. In fact, XL-1 will be on display at the Edwards Open House in Oct.

Good choice Cheers

Interesting part about Wright-Pat AF Museum is that they have two other notable aircraft in deep storage - the X-32 which had its wings reassembled at Wright-Pat by a team of Boeing techs April 2005 only not to be painted an stenciled for display and the F-15 Streak Eagle which is in storage. Udvar Hazy Museum gave the Air Force the B-17 Swoose Goose and they are actively working on restoring it while those two above mentioned aircraft lanquish in storage due to lack of exhibition space. Now it does not take a rocket scientist to see that XL-2 will be put in deep storage once received. I am glad they restored YF-23 which reposes close by YF-22 in the Research/Development hangar.

What I do not understand is why cannot Wright-Pat AF Museum simply give to Udvar Hazy the Streak Eagle which could be winched upward to convey the image of supersonic flight and the X-32 fully painted/stenciled which would repose next to the X-35 on display? Still be room there for a F-15/F-16 single Mig killer to repose next to the F-4J/F-14D single Mig killers. Were that accomplished, Wright-Pat would have the incentive to further restore XL-2 for display purpose.

Forum: F-16 News

F-16XL's being retired (one being scrapped)