Sidewinder loadout
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Good evening.
I always wonder which is the best configuration when carrying Sidewinders in combination with aim120.
For example, if I carry 2 sidewinders + 4 aim 120, which stations are optimal to put the aim9s: stations1-9, 2-8 or 3-7 ?
It doesn’t matter in which stations are placed ?
What do you think?Thank you in advance.
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AMRAAMs on 1 & 9 for aero purposes.
Have most commonly seen AIM-9s on 2/8 and AMRAAMs on 3/7 although have seen AIM-9s on 3/7 and AMRAAMs on 2/8 instead.
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AMRAAMs on 1 & 9 for aero purposes.
I’ve been curious about this too. Any ideas why?
Is it simply because one is far more likely to fire 2x AMRAAM first, bvr before closing/merging … and aircraft will be more performant in dogfight with the wing tips unencumbered?
Or is it really about weight distribution … ie. moving mass away from the centerline, to reduce torque / flex on the wings and airframe?
I guess the question is – with AMRAAMs on 1/9 and 3/7 … which two stations do you launch first?
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AIM-9s on the outer wings (according to some on the program) helped to reduce flutter originally……thus they have also stated that the AMRAAM also does that due to its CG being forward of the twist axis. Basically the F-16 goes a bit faster with AMRAAMs on the wing (in most configs).
It is not related to some notion of merging…ideally you might want to get to get rid of them before you merge, but no one can guarantee that…and try not to merge might be a better plan.
The extra weight of the AMRAAM has in the past caused some stress issues to the outer wings…but regardless you rarely see AIM-9s on the tips these days…unless training or one place where you do is those countries that are stuck with Sparrow.
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Here is a Block 60 during the 2011 Libyan campaign with an AMRAAMs on the outer pylons……this seems to be less common.
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Also, because of the fins and missile body, the act almost like fences or winglets. Certainly, not as good, but still better than nothing.
They increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the wing, more than their drag coefficient in some cases.
The AAMRAAM is bigger than the AIM series, and therefore might provide more benefit?
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I’ve been curious about this too. Any ideas why?
Is it simply because one is far more likely to fire 2x AMRAAM first, bvr before closing/merging … and aircraft will be more performant in dogfight with the wing tips unencumbered?
Or is it really about weight distribution … ie. moving mass away from the centerline, to reduce torque / flex on the wings and airframe?
I guess the question is – with AMRAAMs on 1/9 and 3/7 … which two stations do you launch first?
A-A Missiles are launched from inboard to outboard, A-G loadout is outboard to inboard
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A-A Missiles are launched from inboard to outboard, A-G loadout is outboard to inboard
Is this a generalization for all fast jets or specific to the 16? My understanding is it’s specific to the 16 to mitigate wing flutter; 18s et al not affected thus no issues with AIM9 on those stations
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That is the default F-16 SMS order going left innermost first however not aware there is anything to prevent someone stepping to the outer missiles first should they desire. You can always cheat and put AIM-120Bs on the tips of course.
With clean tips there might be moderate oscillations described however unless they are described as catastrophic oscillations I wouldn’t think there is anything to worry about. The thing is designed and expected to fly with no missiles on the tips after all.
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That is the default F-16 SMS order going left innermost first however not aware there is anything to prevent someone stepping to the outer missiles first should they desire. You can always cheat and put AIM-120Bs on the tips of course.
With clean tips there might be moderate oscillations described however unless they are described as catastrophic oscillations I wouldn’t think there is anything to worry about. The thing is designed and expected to fly with no missiles on the tips after all.
Then they must be cheating 90% of the time?
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Then they must be cheating 90% of the time?
What I am saying is that it is normally harder to inadvertently select a B instead of a C. Whereas if you have all Cs accidentally stepping to an outer missile is less obvious. I used to do that in BMS to ensure I had the tip missiles till last……but it was more for looks when flying home
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Rog
The tag line in your sig is quite bold
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Rog
The tag line in your sig is quite bold
Compadre, be nice to Migbuster. Anyone who quotes Dos Gringoes has got to be ok.
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Compadre, be nice to Migbuster. Anyone who quotes Dos Gringoes has got to be ok.
lol I didn’t know it was a direct quote from the Gringoes ha ha. My bad :behindsofa:
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AMRAAMs on 1 & 9 for aero purposes.
Have most commonly seen AIM-9s on 2/8 and AMRAAMs on 3/7 although have seen AIM-9s on 3/7 and AMRAAMs on 2/8 instead.
can you elaborate please, why sometimes it is aim-120 on 3/7 with aim-9 on 2/8 (my favorite) and sometimes it is aim-120 on 2/8 with aim-9 on 3/7?
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can you elaborate please, why sometimes it is aim-120 on 3/7 with aim-9 on 2/8 (my favorite) and sometimes it is aim-120 on 2/8 with aim-9 on 3/7?
They are both valid it just seems that firing off the inboard AMRAAMs should be done first.
Drag and weight looks around the same.
Having AIM-9 on 2/8 “might” reduce oscillations to the wing tips if they are empty but no idea if this is of any real concern.
Another consideration is putting the extra weight stresses on the outboard stations like that Block 60 has. After significant cracking occurred it appears the wing tip got a total redesign at one point (not sure when) to deal with the extra weight so this is probably of little concern as well.
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