Information supplied and copyrighted
by Joe Baugher
General Dynamics
YF-16/CCV
Last revised March 31,
2000
The first YF-16 (72-1567) was rebuilt in
December 1975 to become the USAF Flight Dynamics Laboratory's Control Configured Vehicle
(CCV). CCV aircraft have independent or "decoupled" flight control surfaces,
which make it possible to maneuver in one plane without movement in another--for example,
turning without having to bank.
The CCV YF-16 was fitted with twin
vertical canards added underneath the air intake, and flight controls were modified to
permit use of wing trailing edge flaperons acting in combination with the all moving
stabilator.
The YF-16/CCV flew for the first time on
March 16, 1976, piloted by David J. Thigpen. On June 24, 1976, it was seriously damaged in
a crash landing after its engine failed during a landing approach. The aircraft was
repaired and its flight test program was resumed. The last flight of the YF-16/CCV was on
June 31, 1977, after 87 sorties and 125 air hours had been logged.
Sources:
- Combat Aircraft F-16, Doug Richardson,
Crescent, 1992.
- General Dynamics Aircraft and their
Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
- The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and
Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
- United States Military Aircraft Since
1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- F-16 Fighting Falcon--A Major Review of
the West's Universal Warplane, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower Journal, Spring 1991.
- The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft,
Gallery, 1989.
- Modern Military Aircraft--F-16 Viper, Lou
Drendel, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.
- Lockheed F-16 Variants, Part 1, World
Airpower Journal, Volume 21, Summer 1995.
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