Which F-16 version is the best?

Normsta3 · by **Normsta3** » 03 Jul 2003, 22:11

Hey everyone, it's been a little bit since I last visited the site, but I'm back, and while I was away I thought began to wonder which version of the F-16 is the best, taking everything into account, such as speed, manoeuverability, payload, mission - capability, everything. I really don't know, which is why I ask everyone's opinion on the matter. My favorite F-16 variant still remains the F - 16XL, but it never entered production, much less went into combat, so I guess it can't be it. :cry:

A logical choice would of course be the last block to date, the Block 60 F - 16, which needless to say seems pretty impressive, but I'm still not sure, so feel free to state your opinions on the matter.

HaroldHutchison · by **HaroldHutchison** » 18 Jul 2003, 18:19

I like the F-2. More range, two extra weapons stations, and a kick-butt radar.

Still, is there an F-16 variant that can do a Pugachev cobra?

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 18 Jul 2003, 19:48

What do you mean by a Pugachev cobra? I don't know that term.

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 21 Jul 2003, 23:19

The Cobra is a demonstration of an airplane's pitch control authority, high AOA stability, and engine/inlet compatibility at high AOA.

The cobra and it's horizontal counterpart, "the hook", are performed by the pilot disabling the angle of attack (alpha) limiter on the flight control system just prior to the pitch up. The aircraft doesn't vector thrust and it is simply a demonstration of the aircraft's ability to generate a tremendous pitch rate, without changing the vector of flight.

Not useful in combat but very nice to see. This is a typical manoeuvre inlcuded in a Su-27 airshow routine.

The F-100's and F-101s in F-16s have a very real possibility of stalling at these flight attitudes as they are less tolerant for inlet distortion from the engine. Also, since the cobra is a very unconventional flight regime, the control surface scheduling program in the F-16s computers just don't have the algorithm.

Th closes that a U.S. aircraft can come is probably the F-18 "hornet walk", which is the high AOA, very slow pass down the flightline used in the Blue Angles show. I'm not sure if any F-16 ever came close to that.

Link: <a href="http://www.avia.ru/english/articles/doc101.shtml">Viktor Pugachev: One Needs to Fly not by Using the Arms, but by Using the Head!</a> [External link]

s_ellebaut · by **s_ellebaut** » 22 Jul 2003, 11:46

I have a small video about the F-16 MATV (Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring) making that manoeuvre. I'll place it online in the album '<a href="modules.php?op=modload&name=PhotoGallery&file=index&include=search.php&searchstring=matv">uploaded photo's</a>'.

ahmedkamal · by **ahmedkamal** » 22 Jul 2003, 12:30

The most promising of all versions of F-16s is D. Provides dual capability of striking, interseption as well as bombing. It has proved its worth operation desert storm, in afghanistan and now in US Iraq conflict. The radar enables the craft to knock down - shoot down any foe within the range of 350 sq. kilometers without any difficulty. Still since its production and versionizing F-16 D is still on top of the list.

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 14 Aug 2003, 18:55

The best version of the F-16 todays is the F-16i of Israel and the F-16s of Saudi Arabia.

Bjorn · by **Bjorn** » 14 Aug 2003, 21:42

Euhm...........

Saudi Arabian F-16's??????????????????

Inform!!!!

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 14 Aug 2003, 22:18

What do you mean?
Like there are F-16 a/b/c/d/e/i
There are also s

Normsta3 · by **Normsta3** » 15 Aug 2003, 00:23

Finally, some more people responded to this topic. But I'm still gonna have to go with the F-16XL (2 - seater, for those that believe it to be appropriate). Shoot, give that baby an extremely powerful thrust - vectoring engine, an electronic phased array radar, internal FLIR & targeting system, and a few more avionics, and we have the ultimate F-16.

*Side Note: And yes, there are more designations for F-16s than A, B, C, or D. For instance, the new Block 60s are designated with either a U or an I, I forgot which one. The U or I, at least on the Block 60 F-16s symbolize that they are export versions, that's all.

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 15 Aug 2003, 00:29

It's not fully correct. The F-16i is exported to Israel, but all of it's avionics are Israeli. The F-16S is exported to Saudi-Arabia, but has "regular" American avionics. The F-16i is also a "special customize", which mean it's different from any other Block 60.

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 15 Aug 2003, 00:35

Sorry, I meant to UAE (United Arab Emirates). Forget about Saudi Arabia

Normsta3 · by **Normsta3** » 15 Aug 2003, 05:18

Hey, thanx Deep Space. I wasn't quite sure myself; all I knew is that F-16s with the designation of I, U, or S weren't American warplanes, but either export versions of our planes or special foreign versions. But anyways, thanx a lot.

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 15 Aug 2003, 07:38

No problem.
Yeh you right about that, but still the plane it self is different than anyother same plane from the same block. The F-16i has a lot of customization, in the avionics (Israeli as I said) and in different kind of things. As a result, the F-16i (block 52+) is better on the paper fron the block 60 of the UAE.

Hope that help

DeepSpace · by **DeepSpace** » 15 Aug 2003, 07:52

Oh I forgot to show this picture. It's a coputer illustration of the F-16i. Note the additional fuel tanks and avionics systems.