Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Going thru this old thread on this subject, I can remember that the RNlAF's Block 15S aircraft delivered in 1987 had the goldplated canopy, plus a air intake that was completely covered inside in RAM coatingmats. The RAM coating extended from inwards over the air intake's edges to the outside for approx 10 cm.

These jets ALWAYS flew with the dummy sidewinder with the ballshaped front end on the starboard wingtip, that was guessed to be a reflector, compensating for the RCS reducing measures of the canopy and RAM coated intake. (Similar to the device you put up the mast of a small yacht, to make sure the big guys notice you when sailing in major shipping lanes.)

With this dummy, if any bad guy in peacetime would be deliberately painting the Block 15S with radarenergy, the RCS for the block 15S would always be the same as for any other F-16, keeping everyone one in the dark about the effectiveness of the RCS measures.

Cleaning the inside was indeed with water and a sponge, and inspecting the RAM coated air intake and inlet guide vanes of the engine had to be done with coveralls on, covering beltbuckles and any other sharp items on or in clothing, and you had to take the shoes off before going up the intake.

As you had to come out backwards without seeing where you put your feet, a great prang was to put the filled waist fuel collector under the intake if some one without shoes had just crawled up the intake. Guaranteed to get his socks soaked, and smelling all day.. Wink

F-16.net Sponsor

the 5-6 inches thick part is wrong and for the tint, that information is still classified so don't even ask

http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/it ... theContent

I knew some F-16s had gold-tinted canopies. OTOH, seems on the two-seaters, only the front canopy is gold-tinted?

the single seaters we build have the golden tinted coatings applied to the transparencies. we usually have issues with them coming from the vendor with small scratches an crap like that. most of the time we can use them. the two seaters are built with a tinted forward transparency and an un-tinted aft transparency. as for the thickness. i would say that the single seaters and the forward bubble of the two seaters average @ 3/4" to 1" thick. the aft bubble is @ 1/2" thick. not much to them. just a large molded piece of plastic.

Quote:

Formula 1 engineers test fighter jet canopy

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 12:33 UK

The first involved a polycarbonate windshield, the second an F-16 fighter jet canopy made from areospace-spec polycarbonate.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14199629

The weight of a canopy type installation may be an issue for a F1 car

Pacer Mud is the codename for the applique-RAM on the Viper, amirite? Anyways, the Have Glass-type coating is also visible on the F-22, but I don't recall it on much else.

Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Golden canopy