| F-16XL | |
|---|---|
_in_flight_060905-F-1234S-049.jpg) The F-16XL which competed with the F-15E for the USAF's Enhanced Tactical Fighter contract in 1984 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Experimental fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
| Primary users | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| First flight | 3 July 1982 |
| Retired | 2009 |
| Developed from | General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon |
The General Dynamics F-16XL is a derivative of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a cranked-arrow delta wing. It entered the United States Air Force's (USAF) Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) competition in 1981 but lost to the F-15E Strike Eagle. The two prototypes were shelved until being turned over to NASA for additional aeronautical research in 1988. Both aircraft were fully retired in 2009 and stored at Edwards Air Force Base.