@ Edwards Air Force Base
October 2009
Attending the Edwards AFB Open House is always a treat due to the unique aircraft that can be encountered there. The F-16XL was a derivative of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, with a 40-inch fuselage extensions and a cranked-arrow delta wing, with two examples produced. It was originally conceived as a technology demonstrator, carrying 82% more fuel and 40% more ordnance that the standard F-16. It was later entered in the United States Air Force’s (USAF) Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) competition but lost to the F-15E Strike Eagle. Both F-16XLs were retired in 2009 and are stored at Edwards AFB. Nikon D70s w/ Tokina 11-16mm, processed with Aperture.
