F-16DSI is the use of three-dimensional model on the workstation design, the inlet is the use of the CFD results, using the same design with the JSF program. Inlet module in the Fort Worth Lockheed Martin Aeronautics manufactured, installed in an F-16 on production, and in the conduct of the flight.
When the DSI installed in a batch of F-16 Block30 carried out on the highly successful flight test validation (Figure 5), it really became a reality from the concept. Flight test program, including 12 in December 1996 to 9 days. Focuses on the first flight test to determine the flight envelope and functional testing. Other flight inlet performance characteristics are focusing on verification, including the level and maneuver in the fast moving inlet and throttle position to determine the compatibility between engines.
Flight Test F-16 covers the entire flight envelope, and reached the maximum speed M2.0. Modified machine angle of attack flying qualities in all conditions and sideslip angle, is very close to the production F-16. Lockheed Martin test pilot for the flight in 2 and 164 times to restart the engine afterburner ignition without failure. 52 times afterburner ignition is carried out in the difficult maneuver. Throughout the flight did not occur in the engine stall and anomalies.
Subsonic inlet shows the new properties, especially its slightly better than the remaining power production inlet to prove that the boundary layer separation device to cancel the whole system is beneficial. Test pilot said that military power and thrust characteristics and the installation of General Electric F110-GE-129 engine of the standard F-16 are very similar. Taking into account the entire flight test program is verify the vitality of this advanced technology, the inlet, the result is very satisfactory.
F-16's flight test the aerodynamic performance of the inlet, while Lockheed Martin's JSF prototype X-35 flight test also verified this. The results show that the CFD analysis made according to performance analysis and stability of the inlet air flow prediction and the real world is consistent.