Hobby Master General Dynamics X-62 VISTA Test Aircraft

The X-62A remains on the curriculum of the Air Force Test Pilot School as a practice aircraft for test pilots.

The NF-16D VISTA test bed aircraft incorporated a multi-axis thrust vectoring (MATV) engine nozzle that provides for more active control of the aircraft in a post-stall situation. As a result, the aircraft is supermaneuverable, retaining pitch and yaw control at angles of attack beyond which the traditional control surfaces cannot change attitude.

The NF-16D VISTA is a Block 30 F-16D based on the airframe design of the Israeli Air Force version, which incorporates a dorsal fairing running the length of the fuselage aft of the canopy and a heavyweight landing gear derived from the Block 40 F-16C/D. The fairing houses most of the variable-stability equipment and test instrumentation. The heavyweight gear permits simulation of aircraft with higher landing sink rates than a standard F-16.

The program was notable for the development of Direct Voice Input and the "Virtual HUD", which were both incorporated into the cockpit design for the F-35 Lightning II.

#HA38042 - USAF General Dynamics X-62A VISTA Fighter - 86-0048, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA, May 2nd, 2004 (1:72 Scale)