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"Missing" parachute housings on Belgian F-16B's !?



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Boman
PostPosted: Aug 05, 2005 - 12:18 AM Reply with quote Back to top
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Recently I've seen a lot of new photos of Belgian F-16B's that don't have the parachute extension at the base of the tail like the rest of the Belgian F-16A's have, and wich are common on our own Norwegian AF Vipers and also Netherlands Vipers.

What is the reason behind this - I know that the Belgians use this extra space for ECM gear, but why are the B-models missing this feature ? Are only a few B-models still without or are all?

I would really like to know as this really puzzles me

Looking forward to any information that can help me understand better.
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DeepSpace
PostPosted: Aug 05, 2005 - 01:20 AM Reply with quote Back to top
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Boman
PostPosted: Aug 07, 2005 - 06:13 PM Reply with quote Back to top
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Thanks DeepSpace. However this only explaines what the extension at the base of the tail is for. What I'm wondering is why only A-model Vipers are equiped with this feature, and not the B-models!?

Can you help me with a link to this as well maybe - or maybe someone else can explain ?
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Bjorn
PostPosted: Aug 07, 2005 - 10:56 PM Reply with quote Back to top
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I will not provide you with a link, but I will explain Smile

When Belgium bought the F-16s, it was simply decided that the B-models wouldn't receive an ECM system. Simple as that. They where only intended to serve as training aircraft. Although practically they can be put into action if required.

When finally the CARAPACE system was installed from 1994 onwards, the government decided to equip these B-models with that ECM system, but they would lack the rearward facing antenna which you find in the extended tail housing on the A-model. They decided this because the Air Force staff argued that pilots in training should be able to train in a realistic ECM environment. The lack of the rearward facing antenna doesn't matter that much in this scenario.

So thats in short why you have this situation.

But no, no B-model has ever had the extended housing. You won't find any pictures of that. What you can find however is an A-model without the housing. The first F-16s who came off the production line didn't have this installed and it was added soon after in a modification.

Greets,

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Boman
PostPosted: Aug 10, 2005 - 09:06 PM Reply with quote Back to top
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Thanks Bjorn - and also to you DeepSpace for explaining this to me.

Always good to learn something new regarding the Vipers!

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Niels

http://s587.photobucket.com/albums/ss316/NC-Boman/
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