A US AIR FORCE TEST team at Edwards AFB, California, is investigating unusually high yaw rates on some Lantirn-equipped Block 40 versions of the Lockheed Martin F-16C.
The F-16 Combined Test Force (CTF) is now into the second phase of an investigation which began when aircraft fitted with the navigation pods experienced problems at high angles-of-attack (AoA).
"We're experiencing high sustained yaw rates never seen before on the F-16," says the USAF test team.
The team recommends that Block 40 F-16C manoeuvring limits are restricted at low altitude and that operators, ".must be warned about yaw rates".
The investigation began after the USAF became convinced that the unexpected behaviour could restrict the aircraft's operational envelope and tasked the CTF with exploring the F-16C's air-to-air capabilities with the Lantirn and HARM-targeting-system pods.
Phase one of the tests revealed that "...the first unusual characteristic with the Lantirn [attached] was the dive angle needed to recover to controlled flight. We had a reduced cone of recovery," says the team.
Source: Flight International
