Here are four things that put the F-16 Fighting Falcon years ahead of its time.
A fly-by-wire flight controls and side-stick controller design was a first of its kind control system that was actually purpose built to be unstable until the aircraft reached supersonic speeds. While this created an additional training hurdle for pilots, it allowed them to maneuver far better at extremely high G’s.

While it may seem simple, the bubble canopy design gives the pilot greatly increased peripheral vision, allowing for greater battlespace awareness at all times.

With its increased maneuverability at high speeds, the F-16 had to adapt to the challenges placed on pilots pulling 9 G’s in some cases. A simple adjustment of the pilots seat 30 degrees back allows for the pilot to sit comfortably in their recliner while they dogfight with the enemy.

Multi-function displays may be a mainstay in new aircraft, this “glass” cockpit design was way ahead of its time when introduced in the F-16. These MFD’s have also allowed for a plug and play style upgrade process, allowing the F-16 to stay relevant into the future.

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