Trying Out the “New” Vipers:

Test engineers from the 416th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., got to participate in the recent Red Flag-Alaska, where they saw F-16s employ the new M4.1 software they tested. Maj. Chris Spinelli, 416th assistant director of operations, called the new software “a huge increase in capability,” adding the information-sharing Link 16 system and hardware to include color multifunction displays, interfaces for the joint-mounted helmet cueing system, and a new modular computer system. He added, “There’s a whole new science to displaying information to the pilot more efficiently.” As SrA. Jason Hernandez reports, participating in Red Flag gave the testers an invaluable opportunity to see the systems in use in a combat-type environment rather than the tightly scripted test program.