America's Lethal F-16 Fighter Jet Could Fly for 92 Years (In Theory)

[sonicboom]

David Axe
November 8, 2015

Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the iconic F-16 jet fighter, just completed a two-year test that simulated a staggering 92 years of normal flying for one of the single-engine planes.

That’s a long time. And amazingly, the F-16 — a 1990s-vintage Block 50 version — held up just fine. “The airframe was then subjected to several maximum-load conditions to demonstrate that the airframe still had sufficient strength to operate within its full operational flight envelope,” Lockheed noted in a press release.

The point of the test was to provide data for Lockheed’s coming effort to rebuild 300 or so U.S. Air Force F-16s — Block 50s and earlier Block 40s — so they can keep flying at least into the 2030s. The Air Force is struggling to maintain its roughly 1,900-strong fleet of F-15s, F-16s, F-22 and A-10s while also buying new F-35s to replace the oldest F-16s, for starters.

At some point in the 2030s, according to Air Force plans, the fighter fleet will consist of just 180 or so F-22s and slightly more than 1,760 F-35s. It’s getting from here to there that’s tricky.

That’s because the F-35s are coming in dribs and drabs. In 2010, the Air Force wanted to buy 80 per year starting in 2015, but owing to deep budget cuts and the stealth fighter’s high price — currently around $100 million per copy — today the plan is to buy 80 per year starting in 2021.



So the newest of the Air Force’s 1,000 F-16s must stick around longer than anyone had expected. As built, Block 40 and 50 F-16s have an 8,000 flight-hour fatigue life. At normal usage of around 300 hours per year, that amounts to 24 years, which would compel the F-16s to retire … well, now.

So the Air Force is bumping these F-16s up to at least 12,000 hours. Hence the fatigue testing — and the surprising conclusion that, in theory, an F-16 could last as long as 92 years. “The successful completion of this phase of full-scale durability testing demonstrates that this aircraft was built to last,” Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed’s F-16 program, said in the press release.

To be clear, there’s basically no chance an F-16 will need to remain in service nearly 100 years. Although, to be fair, the Air Force’s 1960s-vintage KC-135 tankers and B-52 bombers could be 80 years old by the time they retire.

America's Lethal F-16 Fighter Jet Could Fly for 92 Years (In Theory) | The National Interest Blog

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Might be true ..

because a F16 is going through durability test in a simulator have gone through 27000 hours and airframe is still going strong....

if we consider 8000 for 30 years so we can say that it can serve for 90 years

 

[jammersat]

with the upgraded israeli electronics it can fly well over a century , i bet

 

[Maarkhoor]

Might be true ..

because a F16 is going through durability test in a simulator have gone through 27000 hours and airframe is still going strong....

if we consider 8000 for 30 years so we can say that it can serve for 90 years

But i highly doubt they consider weather effects on the air frame also.
@MastanKhan @Windjammer

 

[MastanKhan]

But i highly doubt they consider weather effects on the air frame also.
@MastanKhan @Windjammer

Hi,

Weather would effect it if you were flying in salty air over the ocean all the time---but then you can use weather sealant as well.

Now this news is surprising to some and shocking to others---. And technically it means that this aircraft design---structure and utility is ageless---. It is the wonders of current technology at work that makes a 60 years old B52 live for another 25-30 years-----and that also with so much smart and deadly firepower that it never ever dreamt of it.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Hi,

Weather would effect it if you were flying in salty air over the ocean all the time---but then you can use weather sealant as well.

Now this news is surprising to some and shocking to others---. And technically it means that this aircraft design---structure and utility is ageless---. It is the wonders of current technology at work that makes a 60 years old B52 live for another 25-30 years-----and that also with so much smart and deadly firepower that it never ever dreamt of it.

That is why we are still in love with F-16 even we don't hesitate to get used ones. May be the PAF already knows this fact well before the observed.

 

[Indika]

90 years in theory under assumed conditions. Its more like a bike claiming 92kms/litre and giving 45kms odd. I think US is looking to dump these fighters on some bakras and make some moolah out of it.

 

[Viper0011.]

with the upgraded israeli electronics it can fly well over a century , i bet

The American upgraded weapons and electronics are more capable. In fact, Israel builds on American tech...

Weather would effect it if you were flying in salty air over the ocean all the time---but then you can use weather sealant as well.
Now this news is surprising to some and shocking to others---. And technically it means that this aircraft design---structure and utility is ageless---. It is the wonders of current technology at work that makes a 60 years old B52 live for another 25-30 years-----and that also with so much smart and deadly firepower that it never ever dreamt of it.

Salt is not an issue with special paint. They use it everywhere as the Ocean is all around the US pretty much. Also, the 0 years means, every 10-15 years, the jet will go for a full overhaul, and at that time, the most recent weapons and avionics upgrade. The structure will be enhanced also, with parts replacement.

Might be true ..

because a F16 is going through durability test in a simulator have gone through 27000 hours and airframe is still going strong....

if we consider 8000 for 30 years so we can say that it can serve for 90 years

Durability inside an air tight chamber for Testing is different compared to real life Weapons load and flying through different weather conditions. So if they say 90, I'd say 60-75. That is with entire overhaul every 15 years, with advance weapons upgrades.

But 75 years from now, there will be unmanned UCAV's in their 5th generation, and Hyper-sonic fighters, unmanned of course. Why would you need these old -16's, at that time, a century old design????

 

[Penguin]

By then you can always turn them into UCAVs. They are already used as drones today.