General Dynamics NF-16 VISTA

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 VISTA ("Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft") program, which ran from 1988 to 1997, began as a privately funded joint venture between General Electric and General Dynamics, to produce a Multi-Axis Thrust-Vectoring (MATV) variant of the Fighting Falcon.

The F-16 VISTA testbed aircraft incorporated a multi-axis thrust vectoring (MATV) engine nozzle that provides for more active control of the aircraft in a post-stall situation. The resulting aircraft is supermaneuverable, retaining pitch and yaw control at angles of attack beyond which the traditional control surfaces cannot change attitude.

The VISTA program was considered successful, but the thrust vector control (TVC) never made it into production fighter versions.

The program was also notable for the development of Direct Voice Input and the "Virtual HUD", which were both eventually to be incorporated into the cockpit design for the F-35 Lightning II. The STOVL F-35 variants also incorporate MATV while hovering to provide attitude control.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• General
• Dynamics
• F-16
• Fighting
• Falcon
• VISTA
• Variable
• stability
• In-flight
• Simulator
• Test
• Aircraft
• Multi-Axis
• Thrust-Vectoring
• MATV
• USAF
• cobra
• maneuver

[TV843]

Great video! Thanks for posting. I really believe we should have been working on this technlogy (with stealth derivitives) in the F-16 and F-15 rather than investing so heavily in the F-22 and F-35.

[stankiner]

F-16 doing cobra :) Amazing.

[blacklightning98]

Its like a thrust-vectoring jet!

[DragonlordXV]

F16 xp ....7 lolllll

[ALB437]

Means that the "Vista" program has 100% been given up? If yes - unbelievable! Why? No other aircrafts to take over the system if the F-16 was not the best choice?

[k2477456]

dear santa

[hotpocketpoison]

why havnt we incorperated thrust vectoring in our aircraft until the F-22??? we waited to long and now we cant go back :(

[deathcar]

This would be great if we were building an "air show" plane, but the stealth features of the f-22 far out weigh this kind of maneuverability. I say let the Russians waste their time with this stuff, because when air combat happens for real the Raptors will rule superior.

[gnark1ll1us]

@gnark1ll1us Im going to qualify my statement slightly. I would rather see the Silent Eagles and advanced models of Viper in teh RAF inevntory as an INTERIM measure for the next 10-15 years, since the future is unmannned. I dont see any nation building a plane to dominate Eagle or Fighting falcon in their VANILLA form let alone advanced models, even in the next 20 years.

makes you wonder what the hell procurerment is thinking really.

[gnark1ll1us]

Have to agree, as a Britisher, I think Id rather have twice as many F15 Silent Eagles, and upgraded f16s than the (Brilliant) but less capable in A2G Typhoon.

[TheProjektcc]

@drbackjack

I hope so for all that money I trully hope so cause I've heard different from many aviation insiders

[drbackjack]

@TheProjektcc

I'm just saying, that doesn't mean its not maneuverable. Test pilots report that it has comparable flight flight characteristics to the F18.