Page 1 - Aerotech News and Review, Aug. 6, 2021

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Meet the newest X-Plane:
Edwards’ NF-16D VISTA is now the X-62A
Air Force photograph by Christian Turner
The Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft (VISTA) flies in the skies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., shortly after receiving its new paint scheme in early 2019. The aircraft was redesignated from NF-16D to the X-62A, June 14, 2021.
by Giancarlo Casem
Edwards AFB, Calif.
The NF-16D Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft (VISTA) has been redesignated as the X-62A, effective June 14, 2021.
The VISTA, which is operated by the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., with the support of Calspan and Lockheed Martin, first flew in 1992 and has been a staple of the TPS curriculum. It has provided TPS students the ability to experience various flying conditions including simula- tion of other aircrafts’ characteristics.
“For more than two decades VISTA has been a vital asset for the USAF TPS and the embodiment of our goal to be part of the cutting edge of flight test and aerospace technology,” said William Gray, VISTA and TPS chief test pilot. “It has given almost a thou- sand students and staff members the opportunity to practice testing aircraft with dangerously poor flying qualities, and to execute risk-reduction flight test programs for advanced technologies.”
August 6, 2021 • Volume 36, Issue 16
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The VISTA is currently in the midst of an upgrade program which will fully replace the VISTA Simulation System. The up- grade program will also add a new system called the System for Autonomous Control of Simulation to support autonomy testing for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Skyborg program.
“The redesignation reflects the research done on the aircraft over the past almost 30 years, as well as acknowledges the ma- jor upgrade program that is ongoing to support future USAF au- tonomy testing,” said Dr. Chris Cotting, USAF TPS director of research.
Skyborg is an autonomy-focused capability that will enable the Air Force to operate and sustain low-cost, teamed aircraft that can thwart adversaries with quick, decisive actions in contested environments. The program will enable airborne combat mass by building a transferable autonomy foundation for a family of layered, unmanned air vehicles. This foundation will deliver un- matched combat capability per dollar by lowering the barriers to entry for industry and allowing continuous hardware and software
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innovation in acquisition, fielding and sustainment of critical mis- sion systems. During this effort, AFRL will prototype a suite of autonomy and unmanned system technologies equipped with ca- pabilities that can support a range of Air Force missions.
Skyborg will not replace human pilots. Instead, it will provide them with key data to support rapid, informed decisions. In this manner, Skyborg will provide manned teammates with greater situational awareness and survivability during combat missions.
The VISTA started life as a Block 30 F-16D. Throughout its life, it has received numerous upgrades and modifications. VISTA was originally given the N prefix to denote its status as Special Test, Permanent. The N prefix indicates aircraft on a special test program whose configuration is so drastically changed that return to its original configuration or conversion to standard operational configuration is beyond practicable or economic limits.
“We have found ways to use VISTA that were not envisioned by
See X-62, Page 3
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