F-16 with Sparrow AAM - projects and mockups

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This F-16 with underwing AIM-7 pylons and also unconventional landing gear bay door pylons was shown to JASDF officials as part of the effort to sell the F-16 to Japan.

http://archive.aviationweek.com/image/spread/19761004/25/1/

 

[TomS]

Those door-mounted pylons were part of the early studies on the F-16A ADF as well.

 

[sferrin]

Those door-mounted pylons were part of the early studies on the F-16A ADF as well.

 

[fightingirish]

F 2228 The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Sparrow Missile 1977

https://youtu.be/jCGFABmQwsk

https://youtu.be/jCGFABmQwsk

 

[RAP]

Nice find. Thanks.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I made some screencaps and tried to recover colours where possible.

 

[hesham]

I made some screencaps and tried to recover colours where possible.

Good work my dear Paul.

 

[Mike Pryce]

Can someone capture the soundtrack? I expected Benny Hill to show up

 

[Jeb]

I forgot about those. Wonder if there was ever any thought to revisit the door pylons with AIM-120C? 200lb lighter and smaller wings could actually make this viable.

 

[TomS]

I forgot about those. Wonder if there was ever any thought to revisit the door pylons with AIM-120C? 200lb lighter and smaller wings could actually make this viable.

Probably not needed since AMRAAM is light enough to hang on the wingtip rails instead.

 

[Jeb]

I forgot about those. Wonder if there was ever any thought to revisit the door pylons with AIM-120C? 200lb lighter and smaller wings could actually make this viable.

Probably not needed since AMRAAM is light enough to hang on the wingtip rails instead.

Yeah, but if they wanted to missileer-up a modern Viper, this adds pylons.

 

[RAP]

...

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Nice pics - your scans?

 

[RAP]

Yes. Sat down in the garage to look for something else and came across a ton of stuff I'd forgotten about.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Really good. Useful for my ongoing research project.

 

[dumpster4]

The Iraqi F-16IQs have the AIM-7M-F1/H Sparrow, since no one trusts them with the latest tech:

"When it comes to air-to-air weaponry, the F-16IQ will be armed with AIM-9L/M Sidewinders and AIM-7M Sparrows."

See:

Iraq's F-16s Have A Cool Paint Job But Antiquated Weapons

Post-Saddam Iraq's first tactical fighter aircraft has taken flight. Lockheed flew the Block 52 F-16D for the first time just a couple days ago, and deliveries of the first batch of four jets are said to be just a couple months away. It looks great, but...

jalopnik.com

 

[apparition13]

I always liked this idea, and was surprised the didn't use them, whether for Sparrows or AMRAAMs or even Mavericks. Tucked up like that almost semi-conformally near the axis of rotation I would have thought they would be lower drag and have little effect on performance.

Since these weren't implemented, what was the downside?