Why do Vipers have arrestor hooks?

Greetings ,

I know it's a dumb question but I have to ask ... why do vipers have arrestor hooks?

They're not going to land on a/c carriers ... are they?

And if they run out of runway , there's this netting strung up to stop them, right?

Can anyone who can shed some light on this?

Thanks

Hi Hawkeye,

First of all, there are no dumb questions (almost none ).

No, the F-16 cannot land on an aircraft carrier. In the initial design phase there was some thought about doing that, but the idea was abandonned because it would require to much adjustments to the design. This would mess up the initial goal of designing an affordable fighter. All together the Navy didn't show interest anyhow.

What is it there for. One thing you mentionned already. Most countries use so-called crash barriers at the end of their runways if an aircraft tends to overrun it. I'm not aware of countries using stop-lines where the hook could catch it and stop the airplane, but in theory it could be possible.

Second, the hook is used regularly for towing the aircraft backwards into a shelter. It's quite difficult to maneuver an F-16 backwards in a shelter with a towing truck because of the tight design of the shelters. Also the hook is used to tighten the aircraft to the ground when engine runs are performed so that the aircraft wouldn't move.

Hope this helped.

Greets,

For emergencies cases on ground landings. For example, in the case of the Israeli F-15 that landed without it's right wing. The pilot used the arrestor hook, but the hook teared up due to the higher landing speed that he landed ib.

Thanks a million chaps!

Well they did it on a TV show called "Supercarrier" back in the 80's!
It was cheesy cut footage, and they called the F-16 on the show a 'MiG'

Hawkeye,

The purpose is for catching the barrier if you land hot or lose brakes. In the U. S. the barrier is a cable, similar to an arresting cable, held up and off the runway with spacers making it easier to hook. Most every U.S. Air Force Base has a barrier cable. Since the 1950?s U. S. fighters have had hooks, Air Force F-104s, F-4s, F-15s, and F-16s all have hooks.

And yes, that question gets asked all the time at airshows, ?Why is it gotta hook on it, can that thang land on a carrier?? Our answer, ?Yup, once.?

JR

What about those C-130 landings on a carrier? No tail hook there... No catapult on the carrier 'launch' either!!! IMO the C-130 is an amazing airplane as well.

Bet carrier was sailing into the wind at maximum speed..... it's gonna make it easier

Hawkeye,you might want to know that at the end of all RSAF runways,there is this set of cables similer to that of a carrier...

Same as the IAF runways, but here there is a net at the end of the runways also. In a regular situation that net is folded and you can't see it (the runway looks like every regular runway) but in an emergency the Air Traffic Controller hit a button and the net is being unfolded, and the end of the runway looks like a huge vollyball net

Like I said, crash-barriers.

Although I didn't know that there were countries who actually use cables at the end of the runway to stop emergency-aircraft. Nice info.

Greets,

Bjorn wrote: "I'm not aware of countries using stop-lines where the hook could catch it and stop the airplane, but in theory it could be possible.

Second, the hook is used regularly for towing the aircraft backwards into a shelter. It's quite difficult to maneuver an F-16 backwards in a shelter with a towing truck because of the tight design of the shelters. Also the hook is used to tighten the aircraft to the ground when engine runs are performed so that the aircraft wouldn't move."

Bjorn not sure where you got your tailhook towing info from but I can guarantee you that the USAF or NAVY NEVER use the tail hook for towing and I'd bet money that foreign operators don't do this either.

The tailhook has a shear pin that is used for centering when the hook is actually used. Towing with the hook could work but only if you were going straight back and in that case you could use normal procedures to push it straight back. Any type of manuevering into tight spots with the hook like you suggested would shear the shear pin which while not hard to change is completelly unnecessary and you could pull that hook any which way you wanted but the aircraft would not track it because the directional control of the aircraft while towing comes from disconnecting the NLG strut torque links and attaching to the nose tire which is then manipulated into position with the tug.

A 16 can be put anywhere it needs to go with a tug or push cart. The hooks primary design is for emergency stopping with a cable and is also used for holdback during high power engine runs it is not necessary for low power ops. Any type of braking failure whether associated with a brake itself or a loss of B sys hyd press will result in a tailhook engagement. Just a neat fyi all navy a/c can drop their tailhook in the air however the 16 can only drop it on the ground because their is no positive stop installed on the ac the positive stop is the runway.

JR007 wrote:Hawkeye,

The purpose is for catching the barrier if you land hot or lose brakes. In the U. S. the barrier is a cable, similar to an arresting cable, held up and off the runway with spacers making it easier to hook. Most every U.S. Air Force Base has a barrier cable. Since the 1950?s U. S. fighters have had hooks, Air Force F-104s, F-4s, F-15s, and F-16s all have hooks.

JR

Exactly. Got some cool photos from years back I took of a 10TRW RF-4C practicing a hook approach and the hook is down.

Salute all!

Where are you guys getting your info from?

Standby and Cylon and the other pilots will back me up on this:

- the hook is used to stop the airplane! Plain and simple

- USAF terminology is 'barrier' when referencing the 'cable'/arresting gear. B-52 brakes, chains, water pistons and other gadgets have been used to provide the tension on the cable.

- aborting at heavy weight is no easy task. The "barrier', as USAF calls the cable at either end, and sometimes in middle of runway, has saved many pilots from bounding off the far end thru the fields and whatnot.

Some barriers are recessed in the runway, and must be raised for use. This allows other aircraft types to have a smoother roll. Standard USAF procedure is/was to call "cable, cable, cable" when aborting.

- when you lose your utility hydraulic systems in most fighters, the barrier at the approach end is used exactly like on an aircraft carrier. For example, no brakes! It is also used for certain structural damage problems where keeping the pointy end forward and down the runway could be difficult

- the approach end barrier is also used to 'cycle' planes quickly on short, slippery runways. US Marines have a system that allows an airplane to land every 60 seconds or so. One of our A-7D squads used it at Barber Point, Hawaii on a deployment. Works just dandy.

I am a proud barrier arrestee at both ends of the runway due to problems, heh heh.

out,

Hi All,

I have 21 years of crew chief experience on the USAF Viper and tailhooks are rarely used. Yes, they are used on the trim pad for afterburner testing after maintenance. The shear bolt is removed. This shear bolt has been a problem in the supply system for a long time. Someone referred to the winching of aircraft into hardened aircraft shelters. This is done by connecting the winch to the aft portion of the main gear (tie down hooks), not the tailhook. This is done with the engine running and pilot steering or shut down with a hand tow bar. The other case is as stated, during hydraulic "B" system failure and one other use is if one side of the main gear does not extend. The pilot may be directed to attempt to catch the cable.

I am looking forward to my next job with the brand new block 60 in the UAE. I'll keep in touch.
Lee