F-16 Viper Cockpit Tour, Test Pilot, Edwards AFB

Test pilot Major Desmond Brophy (Canadian Air Force Exchange pilot) gives a tour of an F-16 Fighting Falcon (aka Viper) cockpit used for flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base.

If you're wondering what test pilots are doing in a relatively senior and proven airframe, the answer lies in continuous improvement and the fact that the airframe itself is far from the only thing that changes the flight characteristics of a modern fighter. These aircraft are inherently unstable and, though they are flown by pilots, it's computers that keep them in the air. When changes are made to the hardware software or weapons systems that give these aircraft their edge, test pilots are sent up to evaluate the effects of those changes on the aircraft's performance, capability and controllability. But enough with the big picture -- click through for your guided tour of the front office.


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[fiord-tpis]

3:02 he obviously loves that aircraft!

[ChuckMamuck]

Can you do one of these vids for the F-22?
I've got some friends in Russia and China who would be really interested in seeing it.

[StealthySpace]

I love looking around that cockpit and knowing what everything does. Cool feeling

[alexanderwingeskog]

Truly amazing piece of engineering that stems from the early 70's... and such a beautiful aircraft also... It's like building an Formula 1 car in the 70's and it looks almost exactly the same 2018 but have a different engine, steering wheel and brakes... but looks exactly the same as the 70's F1...

[youreale]

cool. I like this guy, very professional.

[captainricco]

@ 2:34 aha. that's what I came here for! I needed to know about the stores monitor. I'm playing DCS World and the Eagle Dynamics, F-16 Viper cockpit is an exact match to your test craft. Thanks.

[Zolanis]

my left ear found this video very informative

[KanesTrades]

I can't imagine many other things more exhilarating than flying one of these amazingly sexy, powerful and dangerous machines - armed to the teeth and blowing up bad guys. I appreciate this video - no fluff, just straight into showing us what the cockpit looks like - thumbs up!

[nickkerssens]

Interesting briefing from first hand. It gives me the drive to enjoy such a flight in this falcon..

[wjskyout]

Great vid, Maj Brophy presented the information in a clear and concise manner

[spookyNorbert]

The most ergonomically friendly pilot's cockpit ever created!

[amartinjoe]

hands down....the best looking fighter aircraft out there....

[ekman]

Great hotas system and the ICP solution is just amazing.

[klaasklapsigaar]

1:23 "Simply I'm putting my inputs in that the computer interprets and moves whatever controls it deems appropriate."

Sounds an awful lot like my ex-GF.

[fixizin]

Cockpit is actually more comfortable than it looks, because the seat is tilted back 30 degrees--Lazy Boy style! It looks like his knees would hit the instrument panel during an ejection, but they won't, again due to the extreme back-tilt, he'll slide out from under there.

I'm ah ex-pert, 'cause I sat in one (plus a simulator) at an industry air show, lol...

[MrGilRoland]

2:24 The pilot seat position is the best I’ve seen on a fighter jet. I would define the pilot position as “intimate” with the jet, where the man become one thing with the machine. I’ve ride sport bikes for 10 years, the thing I quickly became addicted was the unique sensation to be “part” of the bike because of the rider position. Someone once said that flying a fighter jet is like riding a missile. I think never a metaphor was more appropriate and I bet that metaphor is more real then ever when flying the F16 Viper.

[zking]

oh man that was awesome. one of my favorite jets. i suscribed to your page!!

thanks for all the sweet flight vids!

[sultanabran]

i love the f15 as a kid. still do. such a rad looking fighter. but as i learn more about the f16, it's becoming my favourite.

[MikeKobb]

My oh my, that is a snug cockpit! Great video, thanks!

[moonsy]

I want to be a pilot so bad!!!! The training looks so intense!!!