While the F-16 is powerful and agile, the high-performance characteristics can be unforgiving, especially for novice operators.
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is generally described as an exhilarating, albeit demanding, aircraft to fly. Designed for multirole application and high maneuverability, the F-16 is inherently unstable. However, the aircraft is outfitted with advanced flight control systems to assist the pilot in keeping the jet airborne. With a single engine and high thrust-to-weight ratio paired with the inherently unstable nature of the aircraft, the F-16 is highly responsive, capable of pinpoint maneuvering.
The relaxed static stability of the F-16 requires a fly-by-wire control system—perhaps the F-16’s defining characteristics as far as flight characteristics go. While the fly-by-wire keeps the aircraft airborne, it also allows the pilot to operate on the edge of the aircraft’s aerodynamic envelope with extreme agility. The benefit of being designed with relaxed static stability, rather than the inherent stability of traditional fighters, is that the F-16 is highly responsive to control inputs, which allows for tight turns, rapid rolls, and fast transitions between maneuvers.
The F-16’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1978
- Number Built: 4,600+
- Length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
- Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
- Weight:
- Empty: ~18,900 lb (8,570 kg)
- Standard conditions: ~26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
- Maximum: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
- Engines: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or General Electric F110-GE-100/129 afterburning turbofan
- Top Speed: Mach 2.0 (approx. 1,500 mph or 2,414 km/h) at altitude
- Combat Radius: ~340–550 mi (550–885 km)
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Up to 17,000 lb (7,700 kg) on 11 hardpoints
- Aircrew: 1 (2 on some variants)
The F-16’s Unusual Internal Design
The F-16’s cockpit layout is unique. The control stick is positioned to the right side, rather than dead center between the legs. The side placement allows for more natural control inputs during the high-G maneuvers that the F-16 is capable of pulling. To account for the high-G environment, F-16 pilots rely on physical strength and stamina, plus the use of anti-G straining maneuvers (AGSM) to prevent blackouts or G-induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC).
The F-16 further benefits from a more-than-adequate single power plant, capable of propelling the relatively lightweight aircraft at impressive rates of acceleration and climb. The jet can transition from subsonic to supersonic speeds rapidly, and with a thrust-to-weight ratio of over one, the jet can accelerate in vertical climbs. However, whereas the single-engine reduces weight and maintenance complexity, it also introduces risk. Without a redundant engine, an engine failure in the F-16 can be catastrophic, especially when operating at low altitudes or over enemy terrain, as the F-16 is often called upon to do.
And while the F-16 is powerful and agile, the high-performance characteristics can be unforgiving, especially for novice operators. Rapid speed changes and aggressive pitch rates require precise control, even with the fly-by-wire assistance. And with the high maneuverability comes the risk of spatial disorientation, especially under instrument conditions and/or at night.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
