Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: xbarton@sheoak.bcae (Ross Barton.) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Cranked Arrow F-16's, Wild Weasel F-16, F-15E v F-16E. Keywords: F-16, Cranked Arrow, Wild Weasel, F-15 Message-ID: <1990Jun6.141426.4328@cbnews.att.com> Date: 6 Jun 90 14:14:26 GMT References: <15188@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Distribution: na Organization: Computing Services, Bendigo CAE, Australia Lines: 88 Approved: military@att.att.com From: xbarton@sheoak.bcae (Ross Barton.) Re : F-16E, F-16F, "Cranked Arrow F-16's", Wild Weasel F-16, F-15E Strike Eagle. In article <15188@cbnews.ATT.COM> gwh%typhoon.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (George William Herbert) writes: >They were origionally designated XL for some reason related to their >redesign ["extra long"? perhaps]. This was back when it was primarily >a research project. After the USAF decided that it might actually want >some, they were redesignated F-16F [not E, i believe that the once-proposed >Wild Weasel variant got that one]. I have seen photos of one of them, i think >the two-seater, with 'F-16F' on its tail. I don't know if it's still painted >that way. >While quite a plane, it's not as capable as the Strike Eagle [F-15E] and was >never purchased beyond the first two prototypes. The whole designation system for the USAF, and indeed most aircraft that are produced in the United States, is all the same (though with a few exceptions!). The system designates the single seat versions first, with the two seat versions (ie combat capable trainers that are essentially the same as the single seaters) second. So for the F-16 the designations are as follows, with the two seaters alongside their single seater conterparts :- F-16A F-16B (Two seater version of F-16A) F-16C F-16D (Two seater version of F-16C) The Cranked Arrow F-16 is the same in this regard. ie. F-16E F-16F (Two seater version of F-16E, or Cranked Arrow F-16) Please note that the F-15E (which is discussed below also) is an exception to the above rule of thumb. This is because there is no, and never has been, a single seat Strike Eagle. It was intended from the beginning to be a two seat strike aircraft. This is perhaps why General Dynamics produced the F-16F anyway, demonstrating a two seater to appeal to the "extra pair of eyes" syndrome that struct the USAF a few years ago. I have seen many photographs of both the single and two seat versions, in a variety of colour schemes, with F-16E on the single seater and F-16F on the two seater. Most of these come from Aircraft Mag's such as Take Off, WARPLANE and WINGS. I think I've seen some pic's in Defence Update International too. Anyway, I hope this clears up any problems with designations. If anyone knows for sure that I am wrong, I would appreciate an Email message with any corrections. To the best of my knowledge, one each of the E and F versions was produced. Does anyone know what they are doing with them now??? It is my understanding that the Wild Weasel F-16 never received an official designation. However I could be wrong about this as we don't get the same range of magazines, books and other reference gear as you guy's on the North American Continent (on the other side of "The Pond"). This I find quite frustrating!!! Military aviation research is very rewarding, if you've got the gear to do it. I would have liked to see a Wild Weasel F-16, due to its payload, agility and size. It would be a fearsome Wild Weasel platform, if they could solve the problem of fitting all the electronics into it. Does anyone know of how the Israeli's might have or plan to use their F-16's in this regard? I would also like to say that I think the USAF made a bad choice by taking the F-15E over the F-16E. Sure, its got two guy's in it instead of one, so it's more likely to survive in a mud moving environment. But did anyone consider that the A-10 is a single seater? Also there are more F-16's in the air than F-15's (true at the time of proposals too!). I seem to recall from somewhere (this is a vague memory!) that General Dynamics were offering an upgrade from standard F-16 format to the much more capable "Cranked Arrow" format, with a much reduced unit cost as a result. Since the "Cranked Arrow" F-16E easily out-performs standard F-16's, in all major flight characteristics (ie. lower drag coefficient, higher payload capability's, conformal and semi-conformal weapons carrying, better acceleration, higher top speed, better sustained rates of turn) wouldn't this have made for a better defensive and strike capability overall. This seems to be a logical choice, especially over buying entirely new aircraft, fewer of which have to perform the same job. Is the difference in performance between F-15E and F-16E great enough to justify the purchase of the F-15E. In other words can the current number of F-15E's do as good a job as the F-16E's that could have been bought for the same price? My opinion is no! Standard disclaimer applies. My opinions are entirely my own.