The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has been one of the most popular fighter aircraft ever since it was first introduced in the late 1970s. This legendary all-weather multirole fighter has been adopted by over 20 nations and received several upgrades, but few know that its original designers made an improved version with twice the firepower, range, and speed. It was called the F-16 XL.

The aircraft featured a cranked-arrow delta wing that could carry up to 27 weapons under its wings and twice the fuel storage, and was considered one of the most promising 4th generation fighters on the planet.

There was a lot at stake when it entered the Air Force's Enhanced Tactical Fighter competition, going toe-to-toe with the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle...


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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.