Vought Model 1600: The F-16's Naval Ambition That Lost to the F/A-18 Hornet

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hell Vought should have built the 16!!! at least wire chafing wouldn't have killed 50 pilots due to general disaster cheaping out on protective grommets!!!

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The thing with the requirements of the Navy is that they needed a twin engine fighter not a single engine fighter. F-4 Phantom (two engines), F-14 (two engines), F-18 (two engines). The only plane they accepted is the F-35 due to its technology and stealth capability, the reason why the navy requirement of two engines is for the pilots to safely reach the carrier to land or ditch near the fleet when damaged, this happened a lot during the Vietnam war with their navy variant F-4 phantoms where pilots safely reached the carrier with only one engine working. If the navy doesn't require two engines, the F-16 will probably win big time against the Hornet.

I know Navy went with twin engine but imagine the F16XL as a naval jet.. Ooh the possibilities. Range and payload, which is what the F18 has an issue with compared to even the F14.

Great video! I knew of the F-16 naval project, but this is the first video I've seen about it.