Publisher's Synopsis
In the early 1980s, two F-16 airplanes were modified to extend the fuselage length and incorporate a large area delta wing planform. These two airplanes, designated the F-16XL, were designed by the General Dynamics Corporation (now Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems) (Fort Worth, Texas) and were prototypes for a derivative fighter evaluation program conducted by the United States Air Force. Although the concept was never put into production, the F-16XL prototypes provided a unique planform for testing concepts in support of future high-speed supersonic transport aircraft. To extend the capabilities of this testbed vehicle the F-16XL ship 1 aircraft was upgraded with a digital flight control system. The added flexibility of a digital flight control system increases the versatility of this airplane as a testbed for aerodynamic research and investigation of advanced technologies. This report presents the handling qualities flight test results covering the envelope expansion of the F-16XL with the digital flight control system.Stachowiak, Susan J. and Bosworth, John T.Armstrong Flight Research CenterF-16 AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT CONTROL; FLIGHT TESTS; CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGN; DIGITAL SYSTEMS; AIRCRAFT DESIGN; FUSELAGES; DELTA WINGS; SUPERSONIC TRANSPORTS; DATA PROCESSING; ROLL; COOPER-HARPER RATINGS; PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATION; PITCH; PLANFORMS; FLIGHT ENVELOPES...
