F 16 COCKPIT FULL
Enlarging any size window to a full 127 x 178mm format is HOTAS selectable. The fully night vision goggle-compatible cockpit has a prominent UFC and four primary displays, a 25° x 25° wide field-of-view HUD and three 127 x 178mm (5 x 7in) colour liquid crystal display (LCD) MFDs.Įach MFD can be configured in one of three formats: a single-window 127 x 178mm display, a two-window display with a 127 x 127mm window on top of a 51 x 127mm strip window, or a three-window version with a 127 x 127mm window on top of two 51 x 63mm ones. Upgrades to the cockpit and avionics suite are a major advance over even its immediate predecessors.įlight International recently had the opportunity to sample the Advanced F-16's cockpit and avionics at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth facility. Externally, the major difference between Block 60 and its predecessors is the addition of shoulder-mounted conformal fuel tanks. Next on the production horizon for this venerable fighter is the Advanced F-16 Block 60. The addition of the Raytheon AGM-88 HARM missile and targeting system has given Block 50/52 fighters the added "Wild Weasel" suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) role. Block 40/42 (a "0" ending being GE-powered, and a "2" being Pratt & Whitney-powered) included provision for Lockheed Martin AAQ-13/14 LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods, giving the F-16 an all-weather night precision attack capability. Lockheed Martin has continued to add to the F-16's capabilities by developing several other versions. This advance was of comparable importance to that of the HOTAS concept. Located prominently below the HUD, it allowed the pilot to remain head-up while controlling most CNI functions. The C model's real leap forward was the addition of an up-front controller (UFC).
The SMS function became a menu item on an MFD, allowing removal of its dedicated control panel, further increasing cockpit display flexibility. Two monochromatic head-down multi-function displays (MFDs) dominated the forward instrument panel, while an enlarged HUD replaced the A model's smaller unit. An improved Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman) APG-68 radar highlighted the sensor suite upgrades, while PVI was improved dramatically. The advent of the first C/D model, Block 25, brought with it the first major improvement in F-16 pilot vehicle interface (PVI). Most communication/navigation/identification (CNI) functions had to be accomplished head down because most of the control panels were located on cockpit side consoles. Their cockpits featured a small head-up display (HUD), dedicated radar/electro-optical scope, stores management (SMS) panel and a whole suite of conventional round dial engine and flight instruments.
The first 1,312 production F-16A/Bs were Block 1, 5, 10 and 15 configurations. Each major revision and ensuing production run is designated as a "Block". Placement of the stick over the right side console freed valuable forward instrument panel space for displays.Īlthough the F-16's basic design has remained unchanged over the production run, improved avionics and engines have been incorporated along the way. Fly-by-wire technology allowed the use of a fixed side stick controller. When it made its debut, the F-16's cockpit was a major advance in the state of the art.įrom the 30° reclined seat, designed to improve g tolerance, the pilot had a panoramic view through the single-piece canopy. Since the Lockheed Martin F-16 was introduced in the late 1970s, more than 4,000 of the fighters have been delivered to armed forces around the globe.
F 16 COCKPIT UPGRADE
The internal changes made to the F-16 have required a major upgrade to the aircraft's cockpit Decade of Airline Excellence Awards 2020.Airline Business special: CEOs to watch in 2021.FlightGlobal Guide to Business Aviation Training and Safety 2021.
F 16 COCKPIT UPDATE
Airline Business Covid-19 recovery tracker: November 2021 update.
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