50 years of the Lockheed Martin F-16

[chopper2004]

Originally Posted by typerated

I think the USAF missed a trick by not ordering the F-16XL (E) instead of the standard model from the mid 80s.
Yes the XL lost against the F-15E for the F-111 augmentation buy - it was too small to do that role.
But it would have been far more handy operationally than the standard machine as an interceptor and as a light attack machine
Essentially for trading in sustained turn rate - you got double the range/payload and less transonic drag.

I too, always wondered in an alternate universe, if the XL had been selected, admittedly it would have been the two seat variant

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cheers