X-planes & research X-62A

NF-16D / X-62A VISTA

Used to test AI pilots in real flight

Modified F-16 that can imitate the handling of other aircraft, now used to test autonomous and AI flight.

Wikipedia ↗

First flight1992

CountryUnited States

ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics / Lockheed Martin

OperatorUS Air Force Test Pilot School

StatusFlying

History

Modified F-16 that can imitate the handling of other aircraft, now used to test autonomous and AI flight.

Specifications

Designation: X-62A
Role: Variable-stability test aircraft

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and safety pilot)
Length: 48 ft 7 in (14.8 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 2 in (9.8 m)
Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Wing area: 300 sq ft (28 m)
Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
Empty weight: 18,238 lb (8,273 kg)
Gross weight: 26,463 lb (12,003 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,187 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan, 16,600 lbf (74 kN) thrust dry, 28,200 lbf (125 kN) with afterburner

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,170 kn (1,350 mph, 2,170 km/h)
Ferry range: 2,800 nmi (3,200 mi, 5,200 km) with 3× 370 US gal (1,401 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m) +
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
Wing loading: 88.2 lb/sq ft (431 kg/m)
Thrust/weight: 1.095

Source: Wikipedia — General Dynamics X-62 VISTA (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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