*** Posted by Rapier ***
Hi Kim,

Considering what you have mentioned about the F-16's inlet it would be too late to start designing and redirecting the air from a different area, you may as well design a new aircraft and start from scratch. Personally I dont think it's too much of a problem it the runways are kept nice and clean as they should be, but you said something interesting about the runways being damaged and how would the F-16 cope with this because it is not really a short take off aircraft. You also mentioned that the F-16XL has the same inlet configuration, why has this not been redesigned? Interesting questions kim, but we will have to ask the designers of the aircraft to get the proper answers. Another point I would like to mention is that the F-16 has had it's problems with the air inlet being underneath the aircraft, for instance, the engine has been known to flame out at fairly high altitudes while in the middle stage afterburner while pulling high G's but it can be solved.

Rapier