F-16 Multirole Aircraft, United States

[Blackpearl]

With the exception of the HUD, many of these features remain controversial to this day.[citation needed] The side-mounted stick makes it difficult for pilots to "switch hands" in order to operate cockpit controls with the right hand, often forcing them to use their left hand to operate controls on the center or right side of the cockpit (the latter being few). The reclined seat makes this difficult, as well as making it somewhat more difficult to look directly to the rear[citation needed] and significantly increasing the risk of neck ache.[11] It has been suggested that the actual benefit in terms of g capability is very close to zero[citation needed], and the real reason for the large incline was to make the seat fit into the aircraft. The canopy has the problem of having to be much thicker than in most aircraft, where only the portion between the cockpit frame and nose have to be thick enough to guard against bird strikes. The F-16's canopy has to be much thicker overall, and as a result is quite heavy.

F-16 Fighting Falcon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Is this true, that seat of F-16 is reclined so as to adjust the height of the pilot, and not to give ability to sustain higher G loads.

Secondly, Can anybody tell us about the actual incident, when a PAF pilot ejected from the F-16, as the aircraft was taxing on the runway. I have heard something of that sort from my uncle, who was in PAF, many years ago.

 

[Blackpearl]

I dont think that it to technical to answer this query, as there are 54 viewers, yet nobody has shared his opinion.

 

[blain2]

You will get your answer about the pros and cons of the seat recline at F-16.net. F-16 design and ergonomics are 30+ years old now but even now are pretty current. I am sure there are some who don't like the layout of the cockpit while other may so its all relative.

As far I know, we have not had any incidents of F-16 pilots ejecting from an aircraft on the runway. There has only been one major accident with the F-16 on the runway and that was due to a wild boar coming onto the runway.

 

[aly]

salam!
yaar can any body e-mail me a link for us info about pak f-16 letest deal,
alininety4@hotmail.com

 

[x_man]

Every new system meets with some criticism, although F-16 itself is now around 30 years old but when it came, it revolutionised many aspects of how we were used to see and fly the fighter jets and still every new jet takes it lead from systems that were first time employed in F-16. HUD was already in use by F-15s but the major attributes of F-16 were its fly by wire (electric) flight controls , side stick ,reclined seat and a single piece canopy with an unrestricted view in front quarters. No other jet at that time had these goodies.

Reclined seat has definitely increased the pilot’s tolerance against Gs. As you mentioned, it restricts pilot head movement towards rear, it does. But it’s not a big issue if you compare with seats other advantages. Seat wasn’t reclined because it didn’t fit in the cockpit, even if you sit with seat fully up, still there is atleast 6 inches of clearance between head and canopy. There is a joke that prevails in Airforce that Americans first design the cockpit and then build the whole aircraft around it and Chinese/Russians first make the aircraft and then some genius reminds them that they needed a space for the pilot also, so they just make a hole big enough to fit pilot in. So moral of the story is that thee is no space problem in the F-16s cockpit, it’s very roomy and seat was designed to be reclined.

You also mentioned about problems with side stick. Well, F-16 employed another concept that is called HOTAS — Hands on throttle and stick. It suggests that pilot doesn’t need to move or lift his hands to operate different system during crucial periods e.g. air combat or switching from air-air mode to air-ground mode and vice versa. All the essential controls/buttons e.g. weapons selection, radar modes selection, radars tilt movement, airbrakes, radio button, mode selector switch etc etc are located either at stick or throttle. This arrangement (HOTAS) had never been there before the F-16 and every fighter that was designed after F-16, employs HOTAS.

While there were many advantages of the new design concepts in F-16, there were few down sides as well. But we should not see them in isolation, no aircraft or man made system is perfect . There are probably more than 3000 F-16s flying around in the world and pilots + maintenance guys love this bird because of its unlimited advantages over any other weapon system.

 

[Blackpearl]

blain2 and x_man

Thank you sir, for clearing my queries. One more thing, i asked in a different thread, but nobody answered.

Can PAF F-16 be refueled in air by IL-78, Midas, which, we are purchasing.
The reported problem is interconnection of boom and hose/drogue system.

 

[blain2]

Can PAF F-16 be refueled in air by IL-78, Midas, which, we are purchasing.
The reported problem is interconnection of boom and hose/drogue system.

No Prob.

As to your question, no F-16 cannot (nobody has done it, it may be technically doable but PAF will do what all other Viper operating nations with IFR have done). It will be done via another platform (non IL-78) using boom and receptacle. The Viper has an integrated receptacle on the upper fuselage and PAF will not go for a probe solution on this platform. JF-17s are being evaluated for a western probe configuration though as you must be aware.

 

[ejaz007]

August 9, 2007 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood has said that by December 2008, Pakistan will likely get 18 F-16s along with its technical-equipment, accessories, bombs, missiles and other required armaments.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a book titled "PAF Over the Year", at the Pakistan Air Force Museum, Ahmed said that eight JF-17 fighting thunder aircraft would be inducted into the fleet of Pakistan Air Force by the end of this year, says Online news agency.

He even claimed that these aircraft, built and assembled with the help of China, were better than F-16 to some extent.

Ahmed also said that a sum of 18 billion Pakistani rupees has been allocated to enhance the efficiency and warfare technology of the Pakistan Air Force by 2019.

Speaking on the role of the Pakistan Air Force, Ahmed said it was the only air defence-force in the world that had the additional ability to design or assemble its own aerial warfare platforms and equipment. Even the US Air Force does not have this capability, he added.

Pakistan expects 18 F-16s by end 2008