General Dynamics F-16 VISTA

F-16 VISTA

The VISTA/MATV aircraft in formation with the X-31 (middle) and the F/A-18 HARV (top)
Role	Experimental fighter
Manufacturer	General Dynamics (later Lockheed Martin) and Calspan
Number built	1
Developed from	General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 VISTA ("Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft") is an experimental aircraft, derived from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which was modified as a joint venture between General Dynamics and Calspan for use by the USAF.

The F-16 VISTA testbed aircraft incorporated a multi-axis thrust vectoring (MATV) engine nozzle that provides for more active control of the aircraft in a post-stall situation. The resulting aircraft is supermaneuverable, retaining pitch and yaw control at angles of attack beyond which the traditional control surfaces cannot change attitude.

The VISTA program was considered successful, but the thrust vector control (TVC) never made it into production fighter versions.

The program was also notable for the development of Direct Voice Input and the "Virtual HUD", which were both eventually to be incorporated into the cockpit design for the F-35 Lightning II.^[1] The STOVL F-35 variants also incorporate MATV while hovering to provide attitude control.

The VISTA aircraft is now operated and maintained by Calspan for the US Air Force Test Pilot School out of Edwards Air Force Base, CA. It is regularly used in student curriculum sorties, and other special academic projects.

Specifications

The F-16 VISTA is a Block 30 F-16D based on the airframe design of the Israel Air Force version, which incorporates a dorsal fairing running the length of the fuselage aft of the canopy and a heavyweight landing gear derived from the Block 40 F-16C/D. The fairing houses most of the variable-stability equipment and test instrumentation. The heavyweight gear will permit simulation of aircraft with higher landing sink rates than a standard F-16.

Data from USAF fact sheet^[2] AerospaceWeb^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and safety pilot)^[4]
Length: 48 ft 7 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 2 in (9.8 m)
Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Wing area: 300 sq ft (28 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
Empty weight: 18,238 lb (8,273 kg)
Gross weight: 26,463 lb (12,003 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,187 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F110 afterburning turbofan, 14,590 lbf (64.9 kN) thrust dry, 23,770 lbf (105.7 kN) with afterburner

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,303 kn; 2,414 km/h (1,500 mph)

At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,460 km/h)

At altitude: Mach 2+

Ferry range: 2,800 nmi (3,200 mi; 5,200 km) with 3× 370 US gal (1,401 l) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m) +
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
Wing loading: 88.2 lb/sq ft (431 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.095

References

External links

Convair and General Dynamics aircraft

Manufacturer designations	(numbering continued from Vultee): 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 108 109 110 112 115 116 117 118 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8/8-24 9 11 21 22 23 24 27 30 31 48 240 300 340 440 540 580 600 640

Bombers	B-36 XA-44 XB-46 XB-53 B-58 YB-60

Fighters and attack aircraft	XP-81 XF-92 F-102 F-106 XFY F2Y Charger

Civilian transports	37 58-9 110 240 300 340 440 540 580 600 640 880 990 5800

Military transports	XC-99 C-131 R3Y R4Y T-29

Experimental aircraft	Kingfish NB-36H X-6

General Dynamics	F-111 F-111B F-111C F-111K EF-111A F-16 F-16XL F-16 VISTA Model 1600 RB-57F

Lockheed and Lockheed Martin aircraft

Airliners and civil transports	Vega Model 8 Sirius Altair Model 9 Orion Model 10 Electra Model 12 Electra Junior Model 14 Super Electra Model 18 Lodestar Constellation L-049 L-649 L-749 L-1049 Super Constellation L-1249 Super Constellation L-1649 Starliner Saturn L-188 Electra L-402 JetStar L-100 Hercules L-1011 TriStar

Military transports	C-69 Constellation C-121 Constellation C-130 Hercules C-130J Super Hercules DC-130 HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 C-141 Starlifter C-5 Galaxy R6V Constitution Tristar (RAF)

Attack and bombers	YP-24 Hudson XB-30 Ventura AC-130 A-4AR Fightinghawk F-117 Nighthawk Have Blue FB-22

Drones/UAVs	AQM-60 Kingfisher D-21 Desert Hawk Desert Hawk III MQM-105 Aquila Polecat RQ-3 Darkstar RQ-170 Sentinel

EW and reconnaissance	YO-3 EC-121 Warning Star EC-130 EC-130H Compass Call WC-130 EP-3 U-2 TR-X A-12 SR-71 Blackbird SR-72

Fighters	XFM-2 YP-24 P-38 Lightning XP-49 XP-58 Chain Lightning P-80 Shooting Star XF-90 F-94 Starfire F-104 Starfighter variants YF-12 F-16 Fighting Falcon F-22 Raptor YF-22 F-35 Lightning II

Helicopters	CL-475 XH-51 AH-56 Cheyenne VH-71 Kestrel

Maritime patrol	P-2 Neptune P-3 Orion P-7 S-3 Viking CP-140 Aurora

Trainers	T-33 T2V SeaStar

Experimental	L-133 NF-104A Senior Peg Senior Prom XC-35 XF-104 XV-4 Hummingbird X-7 X-17 X-26B Frigate CL-1200 Lancer X-33 X-35 X-44 X-55 X-56 XFV QueSST

Other	Air Express Big Dipper Model 44 Excalibur Explorer Little Dipper

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General Dynamics F-16 VISTA

Specifications

See also

References

External links