F-16XL-2 Arrives at Edwards AFB

[Old Viper Tester]

F-16XL-2, 75-0747, arrives at Edwards AFB, 8 November 1982. The 'cross-country' flight from Fort Worth was made by Lt Col "Joe Bill" Dryden (FCP) and GD test pilot Alex Wolfe (RCP). Joe Bill, as everyone called him, was the only Tactical Air Command pilot assigned to the F-16XL Combined Test Force and would later become a GD test pilot when he retired from the USAF. Alex Wolfe was an ex-USAF pilot with Thud time in Route Pack Six. XL-1 was used as the escort aircraft and was piloted by Lt Col "PC" Burnett, one of two Air Force Operational Test Center (AFOTEC) pilots assigned to the CTF. They made a formation takeoff from Ft Worth which was not briefed to the GD-FW team - the crews did brief it among themselves - made bit of a commotion in the mission control room when they did that.

 

'747 was originally a Full Scale Development F-16A airframe that incurred significant forward fuselage damage during a takeoff roll (a story in itself). The airframe aft of the cockpit was used for XL-2 using a completely new production forward fuselage.

 

Pinning the under carriage.

 

Shut-Down. "Joe Bill" in front, Wolfe in back. State flag of Texas below the FCP instrument coaming.

 

The GE F110 engine exhaust cone. XL-1 had a P&W F100 engine. As on XL-1, dummy AIM-120s bolted to the fuselage.

 

Being pushed back into the hangar for acceptance inspections.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

[whiskey]

That thing would look so much more sinister if it had like a Block 52 spine on it. Just sayin'. Thanks Sven!

[F-32]

Beautiful!

[f111guru]

Thanks for those. Always liked the XL. I have the Skunk Work F-16XL-1 kit and a Tamyia F-16B/D kit. My intentions are to make the F-16XL-2 kit in one of the test aircraft. not decided on the version. With or without the cranked wing.

 

Thank you again.

Ron VanDerwarker