F-16 Airframe Integrity

[Spyder-F16]

How many G's would be possible on the F-16 in a clean configuration (and without any limiters) before the wings or fuselage would fail. I've heard the MiG-29 was able to do 12 before it would deform, and was wondering if it could do the same. I had seen one source before that said the F-16 could handle 12 in terms of just airframe strength, but I was wanting to hear this from someone who knows F-16's inside and out.

Thanks.

[Warchild_82]

I don't have an answer for you spyder unfortunately but any pilot would be extemely hard pushed to pull 12g's in any fighter aircraft. I do know of a plane that is stressed to + and - 13g, which is a pitts special, cant remember if it is the 1 or 2 version but i did hear from one of the pilots that he has only ever got up to +11g and that was only for a split second.

[SUBS17]

I saw a documentary about USAF air crashes. One crash in particular involved a flight test of an F-16 which disappeared off radar. The investigation concluded after the black box had been analysed that the F-16 had pulled too many g's after coming out of a dive at 850kts(it might have been 9g's, but don't quote me on that) and the tail broke off. The pilot ejected braking both arms and both legs(air speed too high{arms break}, didn't have time to pull his feet in{legs break}. They found the pilot submerged under his parachute in the ocean.
cheers
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[Warchild_82]

Disturbing story there sub :eek:

[Red Gold and Green]

Disturbing story there sub :eek:

Yeah.

[SUBS17]

Don't worry, the ejection seat manufacterer made modifications to allow pilots to float if they are unconcious when they hit the water after this incident.

cheers
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