Exclusive Video: Loss of Control in an F-16 Fighter, Test Pilot on Yaw Departure

Editorial Staff

Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

F-16 fighters undergo continuous testing at Edwards Air Force Base to identify new performance limits after software and weapons package upgrades.
These tests are critical to ensure the safety and combat readiness of upgraded Vipers before pilots use them in real-world scenarios.
Air Force pilot Desmond Brophy provides a step-by-step explanation of one of these essential F-16 tests.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb |Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos

At Edwards Air Force Base, they still test F-16 fighters, because each software upgrade and each new weapons package introduces new parameters. Experimental test pilots need to identify the aircraft’s performance limits, and they need to know how it will perform before their brothers- and sisters-in-arms take upgraded Vipers into combat. This is one of those tests, and Air Force pilot Desmond Brophy walks us through it step-by-step.

Don’t see a video screen?
Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page.
If that doesn’t work, click here to download the video directly.