Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
General Dynamics F-16XL
open-in-new
<p>The General Dynamics F-16XL is a derivative of the <a href="/facts/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon/0KRD0Gqy">F-16 Fighting Falcon</a> with a <a href="/facts/Cranked_arrow/qM5lRjJ3">cranked-arrow delta wing</a>. It entered the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a>'s (USAF) <a href="/facts/Enhanced_Tactical_Fighter/lmGNzTHF">Enhanced Tactical Fighter</a> (ETF) competition in 1981 but lost to the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15E_Strike_Eagle/Vo4eCmzV">F-15E Strike Eagle</a>. The two prototypes were shelved until being turned over to <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> for additional aeronautical research in 1988. Both aircraft were fully retired in 2009 and stored at <a href="/facts/Edwards_Air_Force_Base/MwAW8n6a">Edwards Air Force Base</a>; one of the two aircraft has since been placed on display. </p>