The first F-16XL, ship no. 1 was reflown on March 9, 1989 and delivered to the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards AFB. This aircraft was modified for laminar-flow studies, with an experimental titanium section on its left wing (called a glove), with millions of tiny laser-cut holes (typical 2,500 holes/sq inch and 5 sq feet of holes).

F-16XL carrying a full complement: 2 wingtip AIM-9 Sidewinders, two underwing 370 gal tanks, 10 Mk.82 (500 lbs) on underwing stations, 2 on the centerline, and 4 semi-recessed Amraams [Photo by Erwin Boone]

USAF F-16XL #75-0749 carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles in flight. The aircraft features a 'cranked arrow' wing for improved subsonic and supersonic flight, semi-conformal weapons carriage for reduced weight and drag, and fly-by-wire complete electronic flight control system. Photographed here on July 3rd, 1982. [GD photo]

End of an era: the last USAF F-16 flight from Luke AFB For nearly 45 years, Luke Air Force Base has been synonymous with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, training thousands of pilots and maintaining a crucial role in the aircraft’s legacy.

Modified as F-16XL/A with cranked-arrow wing and flew for the first time as F-16XL-1 on July 15, 1982. Flew 437 flights as the XL with the USAF.

The F-16XL design's ailerons were modified by extending the tips 1-2 ft., and adding an outboard area forward of the hingeline. Since LMTAS has been awarded the contract to develop the F-35 as the next multirole fighter of the USAF and a lot of it's allies, futher development of this version isn't expected anymore.

F-16XL ship 1 #75749 in A/A configuration with 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders on the wingtips, and 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs [USAF photo] F-16XL/A, #75749, in early flight trials [USAF photo] F-16XL ship no. 2 flying above the Edwards dry lake bed in 1995.

They were assigned a new NASA serial number: F-16XL/A received #849 and F-16XL/B received #848. Both F-16XL aircraft are currently stored in the NASA hangar at Edwards. For in-depth information on the F-16XL, please refer to F-16.net's F-16XL article. AFTI F-16 - Advanced Fighter Technology Integration

The Falcon 21 or F-16AT was proposed in 1990 as a low-cost alternative to the ATF. It was to use the basic F-16XL design, along with one of the proposed ATF engines. However, it was to use a trapezoidal delta wing rather than the F-16XL's cranked-arrow wing. CK-1 test bed fighter

The F-16XL started out in 1977 as the F-16 Supersonic Cruise and Maneuver Prototype, or SCAMP. The goal of the program was to demonstrate the applicability of supersonic transport technologies to military aircraft. The program was led by Harry Hillaker, the chief designer of the F-16. Two aircraft were built—a one-seat and a two-seat version.