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M5Here is some incredibly rare footage of the General Dynamics F-16 VISTA aka NF-16D, and now called the X-62 VISTA. VISTA stands for Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft. The NF-16D 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. As a result, the aircraft is supermaneuverable, retaining pitch and yaw control at angles of attack beyond which the traditional control surfaces cannot change attitude. The NF-16D VISTA is a Block 30 F-16D based on the airframe design of the Israeli Air Force version, which incorporates a dorsal fairing running the length of the fuselage aft of the canopy and a heavyweight landing gear derived from the Block 40 F-16C/D. The fairing houses most of the variable-stability equipment and test instrumentation. The heavyweight gear permits simulation of aircraft with higher landing sink rates than a standard F-16. It has a top speed of Mach 1.2 at sea level and beyond Mach 2.0 at altitude. The program was 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. It made its first flight in 1992. The VISTA aircraft is now operated by the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and maintained by Calspan at Edwards Air Force Base. It is regularly used in student curriculum sorties, special academic projects, and flight research. What an incredibly agile aircraft. #f16 #f16vista #f16viper #planes #aviation #avgeek #jets #nasa #usaf #airforce #engineering
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