Repaint and Realism: F-16

The F16 Mod by YSG2000

The default or standard F-16 included withe YSFlight was the first subject for modification. The standard for air combat reference, the flight characteristics and turn rates and climb rates had to be within reasonable bounds. The standard aircraft was making 13 g turns at 200 knots, clearly not sustainable by the pilot, the air-frame or the laws of physics.

Changes to the flight model chiefly included changing the landing speed parameter to 150kt from the 90kt it was at previously. This improved the realism of the model, making turns that matched closely the maximum and sustained turn rates and g loading shown in the performance charts. At once the F-16 became a more manageable opponent, even when flying with the Mig21M realism version. Air combat became more of an even contest and more satisfying knowing that I was not pulling 10g turns to win.

Download the YSG2000 F16C Mod at SourceForge

List of modifications to the .dat file:

# REM: Default F16C modified colors and flight realism by YSG2000

# REM: 31 May 2022

# REM: Air to Air config missiles only

IDENTIFY "F-16C_AirToAir"

WEIGLOAD 0.2t #WEIGHT OF PAYLOAD 5.0t >> O.2t

INITIGUN 511 #INITIAL GUN 3000 >511

INITIAAM 6 #INITIAL AAM Air to air no AGM

REM INITIAGM 6 #INITIAL AGM

REM INITAAMM 2

REFVLAND 150kt #LANDING SPEED 90 >> 150 to give correct turn rate

Comparison of F-16 Vs YSFlight F-16 model (g loading) Maximum ("Instantaneous" turn)

The F-16 was flown at a higher speed than the test speed, and a sharp turn was initiated, with the entry speed being the reference speed. The aircraft was put into full afterburner, however due to the drag caused by the tightness of the turn, the speed decayed, which is why it is called 'maximum turn rate' or 'instantaneous turn rate' : not sustained. The g levels a that speed are quite close to reality as can be seen from the chart.

Sustained Turn Rates

This time the turn rates were held at levels that could be sustained in full afterburner. The results are shown below:

Flight testing details.

The landing speed setting was changed from 90kt to 150kt (REFVLAND 150kt ) and a flight test was performed at max power, entering a turn from level flight. At 15,000 ft, the maximum (instantaneous) turn rate generated was:

3g at 200 kt, 6g at 300 kt and 9g at 400 kt

The tests were done at max military power and the aircraft slowed down in turns.

In a maximum sustained turn at full afterburner, the aircraft could be held at the following g levels without slowing down.

3.75 at 200 kt 4g at 250kt 5g at 300kt 6.3g at 400kt

The only other change was the payload reduced from 5t to 0.2t WEIGLOAD 0.2t #WEIGHT OF PAYLOAD 5.0 > .2

Actual F-16 Chart Max turn rate:

3.5g at 200kt, 6.5 at 310kt, 9g at 410

Actual Sustained Turn Rate:
2.75g at 200kt, 3.5 at 250kt, 4.5g at 310kt, 6.5 g at 410kt

The settings are quite close to the actual model, so will leave it there without any other changes. The aircraft tended to stall in YSflight, indicating a change required for the maximum AoA setting, CTSMIPMAIN or something like that.

More testing and verification may be necessary.