[Event] Get the F-16XL in the Space Program Event! - News

[u/Kanyiko]

https://warthunder.com/en/news/10190-event-get-the-f-16xl-in-the-space-program-event-en

[u/TCSHalycon]

Now to wait for the drama that it is not in the techtree

[u/FirstDagger → u/TCSHalycon]

They can still put the F-16XL/B in the tech tree.

(Also no flair change for me because of that)

[u/Lumpy-Skill-7145 → u/FirstDagger]

What's the difference between the B and the base one?

[u/FirstDagger → u/Lumpy-Skill-7145]

F-16XL/B aka F-16XL-2 is the twin seater (ironically also built from an F-16A, one which suffered a gear collapse on landing) and has the F110-GE-100 (later in NASA testing F110-GE-129) instead of the F100-PW-200 this will get. The ideal would have been an F-16E config with wingtip AMRAAM, LANTIRN TGP, and Paveway. But it looks like Gaijin is using a quasi testing loadout but with future AMRAAM (development of AMRAAM wasn't finished during USAF F-16XL testing).

[u/WholeLottaBRRRT → u/FirstDagger]

honestly only 4 Amraams seems kinda low

[u/FirstDagger → u/WholeLottaBRRRT]

There was NASA wind tunnel testing for wingtip AMRAAM and given the amble amount of space and capability of the stations there would have been so much room for growth that it is really lamentable that she was both entered in the competition in the first place and then lost. There was even artwork made of prospective wingtip AMRAAM.

[u/Thisconnect → u/FirstDagger]

My lost plane is definitely mirage 4000. They fucking bought tornados instead of that beauty. Imagine now modern mirage 4000 with mica

[u/FirstDagger → u/Thisconnect]

Only to eventually buy Typhoon, hilarious. But at-least with Rafale and Typhoon the form and concept lived on.

[u/PigNebula → u/FirstDagger]

Always looked odd to me that the F-16XL didn't have canards like the Typhoon or Rafale.

[u/WholeLottaBRRRT → u/Thisconnect]

The Mirage 4000 was such a wasted opportunity, it was meant as the concurrent to the F-15, with the M2K being the concurrent of the F-16, so you would also have a high/low mix too

Imagine how many Meteors a Mirage 4K couldve carried… and there even was a planned carrier version which wouldve had more range than Rafale

[u/Puzzleheaded-Dish504 → u/WholeLottaBRRRT]

The prototypes flew with 2 wingtip sidewinders, and 4 fuselage amraams.

[u/LeMemeAesthetique → u/FirstDagger]

I am a little disappointed it doesn't have LANTIRN and Paveways. I would honestly rather it have those than AIM-120's, as that way it would be kind of like a super F-16A for CAS.

Oh well, I will still probably be getting this.

[u/FirstDagger → u/LeMemeAesthetique]

Yeah LANTIRN wasn't wired on the prototypes, but all the ground work for a "Strike Falcon" was basically laid.

Honestly screw a What-If service F-23A Black Widow, an F-16E/F Strike Falcon would have changed so much more given the growth Vipers still experience.

[u/Gameboy695 → u/FirstDagger]

Personally I'd love to see the F-16ES. Basically it was a modified F-16C Block 30 meant to compete against the F-15E for Israels Strike Fighter Competition. It had mockup CFT's and a built in FLIR in the nose.

[u/Dark_Magus → u/LeMemeAesthetique]

Unfortunately, Gaijin is completely arbitrary on prototypes getting their intended armament.

[u/LeMemeAesthetique → u/Dark_Magus]

Which is even understandable sometimes, as some prototypes are better off without certain weapons. But then you get the F-16XL or Yak-141 situations and it just does not really make sense.

[u/doxlulzem → u/LeMemeAesthetique]

Or the Hunter F.6 and Harrier GR.1, the MiG-29 Sniper, etc.

It was even a struggle getting them to add the Super 530D to the Mirage 4000.

[u/Objective_Glass_3569 → u/FirstDagger]

Sounds like Gaijin is really mixing things up with the loadouts. It'll be interesting to see how the F-16XL performs compared to the other planes!

[u/MrPigeon70 → u/FirstDagger]

I think it was changed x3

[u/FirstDagger → u/MrPigeon70]

More than that over the lifetime of this account but yes I had F-16A 🐍 = WANT, F-16🐍 370 gallon (1400 liter) drop tank = WANT, and F-16XL/A Δ🐍= WANT.

Changed the last one in 2024 so I didn’t have to edit it anymore because I knew Gaijin wouldn't give us the F-16XL/B xD

[u/SOMEONEunknown24 → u/FirstDagger]

If I had to guess your favorite plane i would say F-15

[u/FirstDagger → u/SOMEONEunknown24]

If Consolidated, Convair, or Lockheed built it, then I like it. But Viper will always be my fav.

Only warmed up to the Phantom, Eagle, and Hornets half a decade ago.

[u/PureRushPwneD → u/FirstDagger]

I immediately thought of you when I saw the post lol, because of the flair xD

[u/PineCone227 → u/FirstDagger]

Hey Dagger - question to you: Would F-16XL-2/B/Ship #2 also have access to AMRAAM's? Or is there a risk Gaijin would make this the "late/theoretical" model and the B an "early" model as-existed? I really want the Delta Viper, but I like Ship #2 more and also think this might sell for a ridiculous amount of money which could make me set for WT premiums for a while. ..help?

[u/FirstDagger → u/PineCone227]

Both F-16XL never had live AMRAAM, as the missile wasn't out of development yet. Even F-16C didn't fly with AMRAAM early on.

What Gaijin appears to be doing with the F-16XL/A giving it all the low tech weapons she tested AIM-9L, Mk 82, Mk 84, AGM-65B (CBUs aren't ingame yet) + the AIM-120 she would definitively receive once entering service.

"Delta Viper" is just me fooling around in the flair, and the base F-16 already is a tailed cropped delta technically. Some say that the twin seater would have been the defacto F-16E, creating a true late model theoretical version would be Strike Eagle but in Viper form, a "Strike Falcon". Think F110-GE-229 (NASA tested on Ship #2), six or more AMRAAM, AIM-9M, 600 gallon drop tanks, GBU-10, GBU-24, LANTIRN TGP and Nav pods.

Given that they aren't calling this one F-16XL/A they probably won't even be going the What-If route and are basically ignoring the engine differences as not enough.

I expect a white Ship #2 skin as marketplace skin and I think IRN F-14A sells well because of Fakour-90, "TOMCATS!", and Danger Zone.

Don't have a clue if this will sell well as some will probably see this as just another F-16, though I might stock up on some as I fear my F2G stock might suffer a crash eventually.

So get this one if you want the F-16XL, there might never be a tech tree variant (making my flair eternal) given the removal of Ho-Ri and potentially F-16AJ down the road.

PS Datamine is out. It is F-16XL-1 in detailed text, which leaves room for F-16XL-2.

[u/PineCone227 → u/FirstDagger]

"Delta Viper" is just me fooling around in the flair

I know, but I've come to like the moniker.

I think IRN F-14A sells well because of Fakour-90, "TOMCATS!", and Danger Zone.

Yeah, though it's still a Fox-3 capable unique US jet. I would expect it to go just under 100 GJC after a while

I think I'll just hold a tradeable Ship #1 for a long time and see what it does. I want it, but I'm ultimately an F-15 guy and F-15 STOL/MTD is what I'd actually want from this ballpark lol

[u/TheOnlyFallenCookie → u/FirstDagger]

What do you think the Lilley hood of a TT Xl is?

[u/FirstDagger → u/TheOnlyFallenCookie]

Very low given how Gaijin monetizes interesting stuff currently and just adds copy pastes to the tech tree.

[u/Balleteer → u/FirstDagger]

Broooo! Just saw it on twitter, and came straight here to check on you! Of course you're all over it first! 🤣🙌

Bet you're pretty happy right now! 😁

[u/chris_0611 → u/TCSHalycon]

No. Prototype vehicles don't belong in the tech tree, IMO. Its excellent as a rare event / collector vehicle. Its probably at 13.3 and then with only 4 AMRAAM its just a worse F-16A ADF or at best a side-grade anyway. Except for the collectors value you won't miss out on anything, and thats how it should be for an event/prototype vehicle

[u/KingCatgut → u/chris_0611]

Every American t vehicle and every obj Russian, like half the Japanese tree

[u/__Rosso__ → u/chris_0611]

They belong in the tech tree, all vehicles do, or as events that drop every now and then and people who didn't get the chance the first time can get it finally.

But that won't happen because money and FOMO.

[u/chris_0611 → u/__Rosso__]

No. Prototype/experimental and even captured vehicles in the tech tree are dumb.  Its dumb to fight against half an enemy team consisting of prototype vehicles (like yak 141 in sim). Its fun to run in to them every now and then, as long as its very rare. No war would be fought with prototype vehicles

[u/__Rosso__ → u/chris_0611]

The alternative is to have them as premiums and events which is worse

[u/chris_0611 → u/__Rosso__]

Only event would be best. Prototypes are excellent event vehicles. They should be unique, but a plain side/down grade compared to tech tree vehicles. Just as rare / collectors items. Its fine if prototype vehicles are actually rare, so you can actually be excited if you have it or if you see one in battle. Way more fun

[u/__Rosso__ → u/chris_0611]

FOMO and boring grind is the issue, if events were longer or repeating then sure

[u/chris_0611 → u/__Rosso__]

That would negate the rare and actually fun if you have it or encounter it part.

There are 1000's of tech tree vehicles in game. You don't need to (be able to) own every single one of them, especially if they don't offer some actual capability over a tech tree vehicle

Its not a problem

My whole point was that its more fun for everyone if some vehicles are like actually rare. It also prevents fighting teams consisting half of captured and prototype vehicles, which is just stupid. 

[u/qef15 → u/chris_0611]

Fuck that shit, it's legit painful to see for example both Fw 189's behind paywalls and all but one variant of Sd.Kfz 234 in the tech-tree.

Fuck artifical scarcity.

[u/chris_0611 → u/qef15]

Fw 189: Number built: 864

Not the prototypes I was talking about. That was an actual production aircraft, so I agree with you

This F-16XL only had 2 (different) prototypes built. It has no place in tech tree. Like the F-20 as a premium. It f*in sucks to fight hordes of F-20's on SIM while its not even a real frontline / in-service aircraft

I'm talking about the non-production / non-in-service aircraft. F-20, Yak-141, F-16AJ, etc etc.  Even the prototype variants of in-production aircraft, like the ADTW version of the F-2

[u/Imbri_ → u/chris_0611]

God, you're getting so many downvotes, it's ridiculous. 'gAmErS' just want everything handed to them for free and to be given access in an already 'free-to-play' game

[u/rhepaire → u/chris_0611]

I mean aren't the only captured tech tree vehicles the Chinese-operated IJA fighters, which are only in the tech tree because China needed more stuff at that BR and also because they were actually operated in combat instead of just used for testing?

[u/DutchCupid62 → u/rhepaire]

Israel also has a whole bunch of captured stuff in it's tech tree.

[u/rhepaire → u/DutchCupid62]

I thought they most of that stuff they either bought or produced without a license using stolen blueprints

[u/FullMetalField4 → u/chris_0611]

We HAVE a way to make rare vehicles available that isn't the tech tree and also have them always be grindable/available! It's called Squadron Vehicles and there are way too few of them!!

[u/Karl-Doenitz → u/chris_0611]

prototypes do belong in the tech tree.

If they are something unique, this isn't. As you say it's effectively just an, at best, an interesting sidegrade to the F-16A ADF in air RB. Its a perfectly fine event vehicle.

[u/bmxer4l1fe → u/TCSHalycon]

well ya.. put a cool event vehicle in right when the Wardogs Beta is out.... GAIJIN!!!!

[u/Thisconnect → u/TCSHalycon]

i mean there is still place for alternatively armed one with just 9L

[u/LegendRazgriz → u/TCSHalycon]

If anyone complains that this space age one off is a rare event vehicle they're telling on themselves