How high can you get the F-16C?

[cptmrcalm]

Came home from a long flight and thought... why not?

 

I was low on fuel. About 1500 Lbs -already doing Mach 1.7.

I couldnt really loose the two AIM-120s at the time but went for it anyway.

 

 

Anyone else had a go?

 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Now I have to try that!

I'm not sure about the wingtip missiles btw: I think I heard somewhere that wingtip mounted missiles can actually *reduce* drag, because of the funny interaction they have with wingtip vortices. But I'm not an aeronautic engineer, so I'm just conveying what I heard 

[Hiob]

At least they do no harm I would assume.....

And now do a dead stick landing from 70k feet! 

[cptmrcalm]

Interesting... I might  have another go and without the missiles and see.

 

I wonder if I can get it to 75,000ft?

[Hiob]

28 minutes ago, cptmrcalm said:

Interesting... I might  have another go and without the missiles and see.

 

I wonder if I can get it to 75,000ft?

Shy of 70k is the best I ever managed in the F-16. I didn‘t plan ahead in regards to fuel and loadout though.

[Nuggetz]

 

I recall this topic from an earlier post and I thought you might be interested in what others achieved.

 

 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

My cheap attempt (I don't really know anything about RL climb profiles which might get used for proper altitude records):
 

[Hiob]

I don’t think there is a RL climb profile that goes that high. This altitude isn’t sustainable anyways. 

I basically took a run-up to mach speed climed 45 degrees until I ran out of speed. Leveled and build up speed again and so on…. Probably not the best way, but I achieved similar (not quite) results.

Fun exercise though! 

Did it with all jets but didn’t keep book unfortunately.

 

[cptmrcalm]

OOOOOHH Raven! I think you just beat me. I had another go. I got to 71140ft.

 

Might have another go. Was yours with or without the two missiles?

[cptmrcalm]

Yesesssss!!! I did well!

 

I've beaten it!! Have a guess!

Ill get the video up asap.

 

 

[cptmrcalm]

 

I dont think I can do any better...

 

(He says sobbing in the corner exhausted from trying!!)

 

 

 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

On 3/7/2024 at 8:16 PM, Hiob said:

 

I don’t think there is a RL climb profile that goes that high

 

You’re probably right, and you’d need a pressure suit as well at that altitude to prevent your blood from boiling

[Dragon1-1]

Blood won't really boil, blood vessels do an adequate job of keeping it under pressure. However, it will cause some swelling and will be generally unpleasant. It will also make exhaling difficult (since the mask still supplies oxygen at normal pressure). I don't think it'll do any long term damage before you come back down. Pressure suit is needed for sustained flight at those altitudes.