User manual

Aerosoft F-16 Fighting Falcon 1.00 Manual
Page 13 of 46
FLIGHT MODELS IN FSX
The described systems all have been faithfully reproduced in the FSX version of the F-16 and result in an
aircraft that is easy to fly. Very easy to fly in fact as it tends to go where the nose is pointed. As long as
you follow the checklists and the data note in there you should find no great difficulties in handling the
F-16.
There are two aspects though, that have proven difficult to our testers. The first is that landing. Most
people who fly the aircraft for the first time tend to have problems reducing speed enough and crash on
landing. Both these problems can be solved with Aerodynamic Braking. During your approach you keep
a high AoA (so your nose is not pointed where you are going but much higher) and after touchdown you
keep the nose up and let the drag slow you down until you get to 80 knots and you can start to use your
wheel brakes.
The second issue the testers found hard to understand how the configuration of the aircraft affects the
handling. The F-16 can carry seriously large loads and most of it is external. So apart from the extra
weight you also have to handle the extra drag. While a fully loaded Cessna still flies very similar to an
empty one, the difference between an F-16 configured for a demo flight and one that is ready for a long
range bombing mission is immense.
All the models in this product have separate flight models that are linked to the type of engine, F-16
model and above all the external stores. The more pods, missiles, tanks or bombs below your aircraft
the heavier it is and the more drag it has. More important, the
aircraft performance will be affected and limited. Depending on
the external stores the maximum G-load the aircraft can handle
will differ.
On the Store screens you can see the stores on your aircraft. It
also shows if you are in CAT III or CAT I condition. CAT III has
limitations such as limited turn performance below Mach 0.7 and
pitch damping to counter excessive AoA (18 degrees at CAT III
and 25 degrees at CAT I). On the same screen you will find the
max G the aircraft can handle. Do not be surprised to break
things when you exceed this value. Contrary to general belief the
flight systems do not fully prevent the pilot from exceeding these
values! Knowing the aircraft you fly is vital.